SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Sentencing: Appeals

Edward Garnier: To ask the Solicitor-General how many appeals against all sentences on the grounds of undue leniency the Attorney-General has made in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Vera Baird: The Attorney-General's office publishes annual statistics on unduly lenient sentence references on its website
	www.attorneygeneral.gsi.gov.uk.
	The following table shows the number of offenders whose sentences were referred to the Court of Appeal as unduly lenient, the number of offenders whose references were subsequently withdrawn and the number of offenders who were therefore brought before the Court of Appeal in each of the last five years for which full statistics have been published.
	
		
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Offenders referred to Court of Appeal 148 102 159 127 160 
			 Withdrawn references 9 6 22 19 16 
			 Offenders brought to the Court of Appeal 139 96 137 108 144

Sentencing: Appeals

Edward Garnier: To ask the Solicitor-General how many appeals against the minimum tariff applied in cases of indeterminate sentences for public protection on the grounds of undue leniency the Attorney-General has made in each year since that sentence became available to the courts.

Vera Baird: The Attorney-General's office publishes annual statistics on unduly lenient sentence references on its website
	www.attorneygeneral.gsi.gov.uk.
	The following table shows the number of offenders whose sentences were referred to the Court of Appeal on the basis that the minimum term attached to a sentence of imprisonment for public protection (under section 225 (3) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003) was unduly lenient in each of the years when the sentence was available to the court and for which full statistics have been published.
	
		
			   Offenders referred 
			 2005(1) 0 
			 2006 2 
			 (1) The legislation came into force on 4 April 2005 and applies to offences committed from that date

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what research the Electoral Commission has conducted into local spending in constituencies by party organisations with incomes of below £25,000 a year.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that, in 2004 and in 2007, it canvassed all registered accounting units to inquire as to whether their total income or gross expenditure was greater than £25,000 for the prior financial year. Those that were under this threshold were asked to confirm so in writing.
	The purpose of the exercise was to confirm which accounting units should be submitting accounts to the commission and which should not. The commission has conducted no research into spending by those associations under the threshold.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1235W, on political parties: finance, what research the Electoral Commission initiated on the operation of the political levy and political funds by trade unions.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it plans to undertake research on the operation of the political levy and political funds and has arranged a meeting with the United Kingdom Certification Officer.

TRANSPORT

A21

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2007,  Official Report, column 1909W, on the A21, what stage the tendering process for the A21 Tonbridge to Pembury and A21 Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst improvement has reached; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: The tender process began in late March 2007, with invitations to tender. These were returned in early July and assessment was completed during mid-September.
	The south east regional bodies have been asked to confirm their support for these schemes on the basis of the latest cost estimates. A decision regarding award of contract for the A21 Tonbridge to Pembury and A21 Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst improvement schemes will need to take this confirmation into account.

British Rail

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was paid in subsidy from the public purse to British Rail in each of the two years preceding privatisation; and how much subsidy for rail services has been paid from the public purse in each year since privatisation.

Tom Harris: This information is available in National Rail Trends which is published by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR). Copies are available in the Library of the House and on the ORR's website at:
	www.rail-reg.gov.uk

Cycling: Accidents

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cyclists have been killed in accidents involving left-hand-drive heavy goods vehicles in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of pedal cyclists killed in reported road accidents involving at least one foreign registered left-hand-drive heavy goods vehicle in Great Britain for 2005 to 2006 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of fatalities 
			   Number 
			 2005 0 
			 2006 2 
		
	
	This information is not available for years prior to 2005.

Departmental Recycling

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recycling schemes are in operation in each building operated by her Department.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following table details the recycling schemes currently operated in DfT buildings.
	
		
			  Agency/office location  Recycling schemes  Comments 
			 Driving Standards Agency (DSA) 
			 Nottingham Furniture, cardboard, paper, aluminium cans, printer and photocopier toners. The agency is currently undertaking a review of waste disposal and is working to reduce waste and increase recycling in an environmentally responsible manner. 
			 430 driving test centres Varying occupancy agreements prevent us capturing this information so we are unable to supply accurate waste and recycling data at present although they are rolling out a process to capture this data for 2008-09.  
			
			 Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency (DVLA) 
			 Swansea Paper, cardboard, cans, glass, silver flake, fluorescent tubes, toner cartridges, IT equipment, kitchen oil, furniture, metal, mobile phones, compact discs, clothes, batteries, wood and wooden pallets. In the last financial year, 2006-07 the DVLA recycled some 67 per cent. of its waste, and the emphasis now is being placed on waste minimisation. 
			 Local offices Paper, cardboard, IT equipment, furniture, fluorescent tubes, toner cartridges, CD's, and mobile phones.  
			
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) 
			 London Paper, toners, tyres, oil, batteries and confidential waste. This conforms to Environmental Monitoring Systems ISO1 4001:2004 which is individually assessed by British Standard Institute. 
			
			 Highways Agency 
			 All offices Paper, CD's, fluorescent tubes, hard hats, furniture and batteries.  
			 Bedford Additionally, stamps, plastic milk bottle tops, mobile phones, toner cartridges, cards, laptops and cans.  
			 Leeds Additionally, cardboard, plastic and cans.  
			 Manchester Additionally, spectacles, mobile phones and toners.  
			 Dorking Additionally, cardboard, cans, bottles and food (wormery).  
			 Exeter Additionally, glass, mixed metal and plastic.  
			 London Additionally, toners, mobile phones and spectacles, glass and cans.  
			 Birmingham Additionally, cardboard, cans, toners and mobile phones.  
			
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) 
			 Headquarters, Southampton MCA introduced a system of waste segregation at its HQ building in 2007 increasing levels of recycling from 25 per cent. to 40 per cent. based on the figures for 2005-06. In line with the set targets the MCA is keen to increase recycling across its estate. However due to the small amounts of waste produced at the majority of sites making private commercial collections uneconomic the agency are currently limited to recycling at locations where the local authority offers this service. 
			 Regional sites The agency has in excess of 500 properties and are currently in the process of establishing how many of these currently take advantage of local recycling schemes; this information is expected to take several months to collate.  
			
			 Vehicle Certification Agency (VGA) 
			 Bristol and Leatherhead Paper including confidential, cardboard, batteries, mobile phones, toner cartridges, cans and plastics.  
			 Nuneaton As above plus scrap metal.  
			
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) 
			 Headquarters, Bristol Paper, cardboard, cans and plastic cups. VOSA is now conducting a national waste audit to identify the streams and general quantities produced by each of its major sites. The results will enable VOSA to establish a centrally administered national waste management contract with the aim of recycling as much of the waste as possible. 
			 Regional sites Paper, card, printer cartridges, plastics and fluorescent tubes.  
			
			 Core Department 
			 London HQ Paper, glass, cans, plastic bottles, toner, cardboard, spectacles, mobile phones, fluorescent tubes and IT equipment.  
			 Air Accident Investigation Branch, Farnborough Paper, cardboard, metals, glass, toner cartridges, waste fuels/oils and IT equipment.  
			 Marine Accident Investigation Branch, Southampton Paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, cans, glass, and toner cartridges.  
			 Rail Accident Investigation Branch, Woking Paper, cardboard, toner cartridges, batteries and CD/DVD.  
			 Rail Accident Investigation Branch, Derby Paper, cardboard, toner cartridges, cans, plastics, bottles, batteries and CD/DVD.

Driving Tests

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes she proposes to make to the driving test; what estimate she has made of the effect that her proposals will have on the average length of time it takes a 17-year-old person to qualify for a licence; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: In February 2007 we announced a fundamental overhaul of driver training and testing. We are working to bring proposals forward for consultation and hope to publish them in due course.

Galileo

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will make a statement on final operational control arrangements for the Galileo Supervisory Authority, with particular reference to the mechanism for shutdown in time of conflict.

Rosie Winterton: Galileo is a European Union programme and the European GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA) is the EU agency that will regulate and manage the system on behalf of the Community.
	Galileo will not be fully operational until 2013 at the earliest, and the final operational control arrangements within the appropriate institutional framework have yet to be decided. These arrangements are likely to be progressed during discussions on access policy for the public regulated service of Galileo, on which we expect the Commission to make proposals during 2008.
	The Council of Ministers has repeatedly confirmed that Galileo is a civil programme under civil control. The operation of any navigation aid, such as Galileo, can nevertheless have security implications for member states. A Council joint action of 2004 provides that any aspects of the operation of Galileo which affect member states' security can be referred to the Council, which would take the necessary decisions—including the option of suspending normal service—by unanimity.

Metronet

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost has been of running Metronet since it went into administration.

Rosie Winterton: In addition to their infrastructure service charge payments, the Metronet companies receive money to cover their operating deficit. The public-private partnership administrator stated in September that the net operating deficit of Metronet while in administration was £14.4 million per week, a projection of £345.5 million for six months of administration. This net operating deficit is funded by a loan provided by Transport for London.
	Much of the funding for the net operating deficit simply replaces planned Metronet borrowing which would, in due course, itself have been reflected in public accounts.

Railways

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage change from a 2003 baseline she has projected for  (a) rail passenger and  (b) rail freight mileage by (i) 2010, (ii) 2015, (iii) 2020 and (iv) 2025.

Tom Harris: The percentage change relative to 2003-04 for rail passenger miles on franchised services in England and Wales is forecast as follows:
	
		
			   Percentage growth 
			 2010-11 26 
			 2015-16 44 
			 2020-21 54 
			 2025-26 70 
		
	
	Rail freight is a commercial business between the freight operators and Network Rail. The Department does not make forecasts of this traffic.

Railways

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment she has made of the effects of the business practices of the rolling stock companies on the operation of the rail network.

Tom Harris: The Department for Transport made a submission to the Office of Rail Regulation on 28 June 2006 requesting that it refer the market to the Competition Commission for investigation under Section 131 of the Enterprise Act 2002.
	On 26 April 2007 ORR referred the leasing of rolling stock for franchised passenger services and the supply of related maintenance services to the Competition Commission. The Competition Commission issued their emerging thinking on 19 December 2007.
	For further details, I would refer the hon. Member to:
	www.competition-commission.org.uk/inquiries/ref2007/roscos/index.htm

Railways

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her policy is on the sale of rolling stock by rolling stock companies to overseas customers.

Tom Harris: Rolling stock is privately owned by the rolling stock companies. Sales and rolling stock are therefore a business matter for them.

Railways: Bridges

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what weights bridges across railway lines are required to support.

Rosie Winterton: The carrying capacity of public highway bridges crossing railways is a matter for agreement between the relevant highway authority and the bridge owner (which may be the highway authority itself).

Railways: Bridges

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding her Department has provided for the  (a) maintenance,  (b) repair,  (c) rebuilding and  (d) construction of bridges across railway lines in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Department for Transport provides funding to Network Rail, the Highways Agency and local highway authorities to support the construction and maintenance of their networks, but does not separately identify how much of this is spent on bridges crossing railways.

Railways: Freight

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if she will estimate the amount of carbon emissions from  (a) rail and  (b) road haulage in each year since 1990 (i) per mile and (ii) in total;
	(2)  if she will estimate the amount of carbon emissions from rail haulage in each year since 1990.

Tom Harris: The following tables are based on data from the national atmospheric emissions inventory and Great Britain and Northern Ireland traffic censuses. It summarises carbon dioxide emissions of diesel rail haulage and heavy goods vehicles for the years requested. The tables exclude carbon dioxide emission figures for electric rail haulage and per kilometre for diesel rail haulage which are not available in the form requested.
	
		
			1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997 
			 Diesel rail freight CO2 emissions (kilotonnes) 636 610 616 547 517 529 600 673 
			 HGVs CO2 emissions (kilotonnes) 22038 20943 21015 21582 23291 23971 25360 26032 
			 HGVs Kt of C02 /billion km 847 817 842 849 898 899 922 924 
		
	
	
		
			1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Diesel rail freight CO2 emissions (kilotonnes) 689 724 720 772 744 752 824 824 
			 HGVs CO2 emissions (kilotonnes) 26245 26032 25764 25811 26732 27220 27909 28592 
			 HGVs Kt of C02 /billion km 898 878 862 870 883 887 889 920

Road Traffic

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the percentage change in traffic levels  (a) on English roads and  (b) in each county within England was for each year since 1997, taking the 1997 levels as 100 per cent.

Rosie Winterton: The change in traffic levels for England and its constituent counties can be found in the following table. The change is shown as an index based on 1997.
	
		
			  Index of traffic growth by English counties( 1)  (1997 = 100) 
			  County name  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 England 100 102 104 104 106 108 109 111 111 112 
			 Central London 100 102 102 101 98 96 95 98 98 98 
			 Inner London excluding Central 100 100 102 102 102 102 102 101 99 101 
			 Outer London 100 101 104 104 104 105 105 104 105 106 
			 Avon 100 102 105 106 108 111 112 114 115 115 
			 Bedfordshire 100 103 104 103 104 108 110 113 113 111 
			 Berkshire 100 102 104 105 106 109 108 108 108 109 
			 Buckinghamshire 100 102 106 109 110 111 111 110 110 111 
			 Cambridgeshire 100 101 104 104 106 107 109 111 111 112 
			 Cheshire 100 102 104 105 106 106 108 110 110 113 
			 Cleveland 100 101 104 104 106 109 110 111 110 112 
			 Cornwall 100 101 101 102 105 110 113 115 116 117 
			 Cumbria 100 101 102 103 102 106 107 109 109 110 
			 Derbyshire 100 102 103 100 103 104 107 109 109 110 
			 Devon 100 102 102 103 105 109 109 112 113 114 
			 Dorset 100 102 105 105 106 109 110 110 112 113 
			 Durham 100 102 104 104 106 110 111 113 114 117 
			 East Sussex 100 102 103 103 105 107 109 111 111 112 
			 Essex 100 101 104 104 106 107 108 110 110 112 
			 Gloucestershire 100 101 105 106 108 110 112 114 115 117 
			 Greater Manchester 100 102 104 104 107 111 111 114 112 112 
			 Hampshire 100 102 104 105 108 111 111 113 113 114 
			 Hereford and Worcester 100 102 105 105 105 109 108 109 110 113 
			 Hertfordshire 100 101 102 101 103 106 105 107 106 106 
			 Humberside 100 101 104 103 105 109 110 113 113 114 
			 Isle of Wight 100 100 101 103 104 108 110 111 110 114 
			 Kent 100 102 104 106 108 111 112 114 114 115 
			 Lancashire 100 102 104 103 105 108 108 112 112 113 
			 Leicestershire 100 103 106 105 107 110 111 113 113 113 
			 Lincolnshire 100 102 104 105 106 110 112 114 116 117 
			 Merseyside 100 101 102 104 105 109 109 110 112 113 
			 Norfolk 100 102 103 104 106 109 110 112 114 115 
			 North Yorkshire 100 102 103 102 105 108 109 112 114 119 
			 Northamptonshire 100 103 107 107 109 114 118 120 118 120 
			 Northumberland 100 101 105 104 107 109 110 114 114 117 
			 Nottinghamshire 100 101 104 103 104 107 109 111 111 114 
			 Oxfordshire 100 102 104 105 106 110 108 110 110 111 
			 Shropshire 100 102 103 103 106 109 109 111 112 113 
			 Somerset 100 102 104 104 107 110 111 113 114 117 
			 South Yorkshire 100 103 104 105 107 111 111 115 115 116 
			 Staffordshire 100 101 103 103 105 107 109 112 115 116 
			 Suffolk 100 101 103 103 105 107 109 110 110 111 
			 Surrey 100 104 104 103 106 107 107 108 107 108 
			 Tyne and Wear 100 101 103 103 105 108 109 110 110 110 
			 Warwickshire 100 103 102 103 105 106 106 110 111 114 
			 West Midlands 100 102 103 103 103 107 107 108 108 108 
			 West Sussex 100 103 105 106 107 108 109 111 111 111 
			 West Yorkshire 100 103 103 104 105 107 107 109 109 112 
			 Wiltshire 100 103 103 103 104 107 109 109 112 113 
			 (1) The counties are based on the pre-1997 boundaries.

Roads: Accidents

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatalities have been caused by road traffic accidents in London in each of the last five years, broken down by London borough; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of fatalities resulting from reported injury road accidents in each London borough for 2002 to 2006 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of fatalities 
			  London borough  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Westminster 15 11 9 12 13 
			 Camden 8 5 4 2 8 
			 Islington 8 10 2 4 2 
			 Hackney 10 4 8 4 7 
			 Tower Hamlets 10 6 6 8 6 
			 Greenwich 11 7 10 8 13 
			 Lewisham 9 11 5 6 2 
			 Southwark 8 4 9 7 7 
			 Lambeth 10 13 4 8 10 
			 Wandsworth 6 10 8 4 7 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 4 6 6 10 6 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 7 9 5 10 3 
			 Waltham Forest 6 7 1 5 1 
			 Redbridge 11 7 9 7 5 
			 Havering 7 17 10 7 5 
			 Barking and Dagenham 9 6 9 6 4 
			 Newham 6 4 4 2 3 
			 Bexley 8 4 2 6 6 
			 Bromley 9 13 10 9 12 
			 Croydon 13 14 11 7 6 
			 Sutton 6 6 3 2 2 
			 Merton 5 6 2 1 5 
			 Kingston-upon- Thames 4 3 4 3 3 
			 Richmond-upon- Thames 7 2 6 2 6 
			 Hounslow 12 9 15 14 13 
			 Hillingdon 7 5 11 8 6 
			 Ealing 18 18 7 9 10 
			 Brent 5 2 6 7 10 
			 Harrow 4 9 4 3 3 
			 Barnet 14 20 12 12 17 
			 Haringey 12 16 3 7 8 
			 Enfield 9 7 8 13 21 
			 City of London 3 1 3 1 1 
			   
			 London total 281 272 216 214 231

Roads: Accidents

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents resulting in the death of a cyclist were recorded in each London borough  (a) in total and  (b) involving cyclists under the age of (i) 11 and (ii) 16 years in each year since 2000.

Jim Fitzpatrick: A table showing the number of reported personal injury road accidents resulting in at least one pedal cyclist fatality in each London borough  (a) in total and  (b) involving pedal cyclist fatalities under the age of (i) 11 and (ii) 16 years in each year since 2000 has been deposited in the Libraries of the House.

Roads: Tolls

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will ensure that people who have to travel regularly to hospital are exempted from road user charging under the provisions of the Local Transport Bill.

Rosie Winterton: The Government believe that the detailed design of local road pricing schemes is best decided at local level. However, we have given guidance to local authorities that scheme design will need to identify at-risk groups and consider how any negative impacts on these groups could be minimised or mitigated.
	The Secretary of State may already set national regulations on exemptions and discounts under the Transport Act 2000, so an amendment to the Local Transport Bill would not be necessary.

South West Trains

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 7 January 2008,  Official Report, column 15W, on South West Trains, what percentage of the mainline express fleet class 442 rolling stock units represented before their withdrawal.

Tom Harris: Twenty four Class 442 units were taken off lease before the start of the Stagecoach South Western Trains franchise that commenced in February 2007. The class 442s represented 10 per cent. of South West Trains mainline fleet in unit number terms under the previous franchise. No class 442s ran in service under Stagecoach South Western Trains.

Transport: Crime

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the cost to the economy of assaults on staff in the  (a) bus and coach,  (b) rail,  (c) shipping and  (d) transport industry in 2007-08.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has not undertaken any estimation of the costs of transport staff assaults to the economy in 2007-08. However, the Department is currently undertaking research into the costs of crime committed on public transport, and the costs of staff assaults is one of the categories being investigated within this piece of research.

Transport: Schools

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on encouraging alternatives to car use for taking children to school.

Rosie Winterton: The Secretary of State for Transport is happy to provide reassurance that there have been no meetings to which the hon. Lady has not been invited with the shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families or indeed any other of her colleagues in the shadow Cabinet. The Secretary of State for Transport has met with the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families to discuss a range of issues, including travel to school.

Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how far people living in an English  (a) urban and  (b) rural area travelled per person on average in 2006.

Rosie Winterton: The average annual distance travelled per person living in England in 2006, based on data from the national travel survey, was 6,677 miles in urban areas and 9,971 miles in rural areas.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Wastes

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what estimate the Government have made of the costs likely to be incurred by farmers for arranging slurry storage for six months under the proposed nitrate vulnerable zones directive;
	(2)  what plans the Government have to compensate farmers for the extra costs incurred in storing slurry for six months under the proposed nitrate vulnerable zones directive.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 7 January 2008
	The partial regulatory impact assessment and paper 'G4Assistance on the partial RIA including extended Nitrate Vulnerable Zones', published in support of the consultation on implementation of the nitrates directive in England, provide details of my Department's assessment of the likely cost to farmers of the proposed nitrates action programme measures. Both these papers are available to view on DEFRA's website.
	These assessments estimate the likely cost to farmers of meeting the proposed manure storage requirements as in the range 19 million to 24 million per year. This is assuming that the action programme is applied within proposed nitrate vulnerable zones covering 70 per cent. of England. Costs will be higher if the decision is taken to apply the action programme to the whole of England (annualised over 20 years).
	My Department has also committed 98 million (under the rural development programme) to the livestock sector, to improve competitiveness, animal welfare and on-farm management of nutrients.

Animal Welfare: Finance

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding his Department provided local authorities in relation to stray animals in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Funding for stray dogs is one of the services supported through formula grant. Formula grant, which comprises revenue support grant, redistributed business rates and principal formula police grant, where appropriate, is an unhypothecated block grant; that is, councils are free to spend the money on any service. For this reason, and due to the method of calculation, particularly floor damping, it is not possible to say how much grant has been provided for any particular service.
	From 6 April 2008, local authorities will have sole responsibility for stray dogs functions under sections 149 and 150 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. An additional 4 million per year will be funded through the revenue support grant for local authorities in England and Wales.

Stray Animals

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of stray animals in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: No such estimate has been made.

Biodiversity

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 991-2W, on biodiversity, what the form of the socioeconomic studies is; who is undertaking them; what contribution the UK is making to them; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: There is no set form for the provision of views and case studies on the socio-economic considerations. The UK has no plans to provide a contribution and has not yet seen any contributions provided by any other parties.

Carbon Emissions

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what adjustment the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund makes for the effect of radiative forcing.

Phil Woolas: The Government Carbon Offsetting Fund (GCOF) applies a radiative forcing multiplier of two to emission calculations of medium and long-haul air travel.

Carbon Emissions

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how his Department plans to encourage domestic carbon offsetting and the reduction of emissions in 2008.

Phil Woolas: DEFRA is currently undertaking a range of activities to encourage individuals to reduce emissions.
	Through the Act on CO2 campaign DEFRA is promoting awareness of climate change and encouraging individuals and households to take action to reduce their CO2 emissions. DEFRA continues to promote the use of the Act on CO2 carbon calculator to help raise awareness of an individual's or household's carbon footprint.
	The Government will be publishing a voluntary Code of Best Practice for Carbon Offsetting in spring 2008. Offset providers that meet the standard set out in the code will receive accredited status.
	Offsetting should be set in a hierarchy of actions. The most effective way to tackle climate change is to avoid and reduce emissions. When it is not possible to avoid or reduce emissions, consumers should consider offsetting. When carried out in this context, we support the use of offsets generated by robust and verifiable mechanisms bound by international regulation.

Carbon Emissions: Government Departments

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps he has taken to meet the target of ensuring the Central Government Office Estate is carbon neutral by 2012;
	(2)  what steps were taken in  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07 against the objective of making the Central Government Office Estate carbon neutral.

Phil Woolas: Reducing carbon emissions is the most important element of delivering carbon neutrality. Departments are currently working towards meeting the sustainable operations targets for the Government estate, which include a requirement to reduce carbon emissions from office energy use by 12.5 per cent. by 2010-11, relative to 1999-2000 levels and by 30 per cent. by 2020. Options for the offsetting scheme that will be required to meet the 2012 carbon neutrality target will be considered during 2008.
	Between 2005 and 2007, the Carbon Trust has used some of the funding it receives from DEFRA to help numerous Government Departments reduce their carbon emissions, and financial support is available through Salix Finance, a revolving loan scheme that can be used to invest in cost-effective energy efficiency projects in the public sector.
	DEFRA is working towards minimising carbon emissions and energy consumption in its buildings through retrofitting energy efficiency technologies and behavioural change initiatives. DEFRA's new Alnwick office has been designed to be the first carbon neutrally operated office building on the DEFRA estate and a true benchmark for the future.

Carbon Emissions: Small Businesses

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what initiatives have been introduced since the Bali Climate Change Conference to help small businesses reduce their carbon emissions.

Phil Woolas: DEFRA is already grant funding the Carbon Trust (with around 90 million in 2007-08) to help businesses of all sizes reduce their carbon emissions. The trust provides a range of support to small businesses, which includes interest-free loans for approved energy saving projects, site surveys identifying energy-saving opportunities for companies with energy bills of more than 50,000 per annum, a free telephone helpline and a range of online tools and bespoke information for different business sectors. Over the last three years the trust has provided around 90 million of support to small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and in 2006-07 alone, SMEs comprised 40 per cent. of the trust's customer base and received two-thirds of the 5,000 on-site energy surveys conducted by, or on behalf of, the trust.
	The Government are also currently developing options for implementing the Energy Services Directive which requires that all (except very small) energy suppliers must take action to supply or promote some form of energy efficiency or energy services to all sectors, including small businesses. Once implemented this will complement the range of carbon abatement services offered to this sector by the Carbon Trust.

Crabs: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1267W, on crabs: conservation, whether he plans to discuss  (a) brown crab and  (b) lobster conservation with the European Commission and his European counterparts in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA is in discussion with the devolved Administrations regarding brown crab and lobster conservation. Plans to discuss these issues with the European Commission and European counterparts in the next 12 months will be dependent upon the outcome of these talks with the devolved Administrations.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effects of the change in his Department's budget following the most recent Comprehensive Spending Review on its ability to meet its target to halt biodiversity loss by 2010;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effects of the change in his Department's budget following the most recent Comprehensive Spending Review on Natural England's work on  (a) local biodiversity partnerships,  (b) national trails,  (c) bridleways,  (d) areas of outstanding beauty and  (e) national nature reserves;
	(3)  when the budget for 2008 and onwards for Natural England will be  (a) decided and  (b) announced.

Joan Ruddock: We are currently considering allocation of the Department's resources for 2008-09 and have started discussions with Natural England on options for its CSR budget. However, it is too early to set out what the implications will be for individual areas of work.
	Securing a healthy natural environment remains a top priority and is one of my Department's two high level goals alongside tackling climate change. Natural England will be a key contributor to this work. We expect to be in a position to confirm Natural England's financial settlement for 2008-09 by the end of February 2008 and will then be working with Natural England to finalise its next corporate plan, which will set Natural England's priorities and the outcomes to be achieved.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of the change in his Department's budget following the most recent Comprehensive Spending Review on  (a) staff morale,  (b) staff numbers,  (c) spending programmes and  (d) grants to non-governmental organisations, including (i) Butterfly Conservations, (ii) The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, (iii) the Wildlife Trusts, (iv) Plantlife and (v) the Bat Conservation Trust.

Joan Ruddock: The changes to the Department's budget following the CSR settlement in October 2007 have not yet been finalised. New budgets for the CSR period will be announced before the beginning of the next financial year and until these are decided it is not possible to make an assessment of the various issues listed. The exception being on  (b), staff numbers, where there are no pre-determined targets across the CSR period. However, staffing levels will be kept under review to ensure that DEFRA maintains a flexible and efficient work force within its administration budget, which will be reduced by 5 per cent. in real terms per annum in common with other Government Departments.

Discovering Lost Ways

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the Discovering Lost Ways project.

Jonathan R Shaw: In February 2007, Natural England approved a review of the Discovering Lost Ways project. This is a fundamental review, which is being informed by evidence collected from a series of small-scale tests and a structured programme of engagement with stakeholders. Natural England is currently finalising its advice on the way forward for the project and will report to me shortly on the outcome of its deliberations.

Dog Wardens

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information his Department has on the number of dog wardens in each local authority in England; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department does not collect statistics on the number of dog wardens that individual local authorities employ. However, each local authority is required to appoint an officer to carry out the stray dogs functions set out in section 149 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Dolphins: Moray Firth

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to protect bottlenose dolphins at the Moray Firth; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform is currently consulting on a draft Appropriate Assessment for the Moray Firth in the context of the 24th Offshore Oil and Gas Licensing Round. The draft Appropriate Assessment has been carried out under the terms of the Habitats Directive which was implemented into UK law by the Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001 (as amended). Those regulations require that before granting a petroleum licence, the Secretary of State carry out an Appropriate Assessment where he considers that any activity which might be carried on pursuant to such a licence is likely to have a significant effect on any Special Area of Conservationwhether individually or in combination with other plans or projects. Subject to certain exceptions, a licence can only be granted after having ascertained through the Appropriate Assessment that such activities will not have an adverse effect on the integrity of such a SAC.
	The draft Appropriate Assessment considers the impact of potential oil and gas activities on the Moray Firth SAC, which has been designated as such because it contains one of only two resident bottlenose dolphin populations in UK waters. In carrying out his assessment, the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform obtained a report from the specialist Sea Mammal Research Unit which is based at St. Andrews University in Scotland. The Secretary of State's preliminary viewwhich is supported by the report from the SMRUis that oil and gas activities which would flow from the grant of a petroleum licence in the Moray Firth would not have an adverse effect on the integrity of the Moray Firth SAC (or others).
	The draft Appropriate Assessment was published on 21 December 2007 and the public consultation period on the draft runs until 14 March 2008. The Government's statutory environmental advisers are also being consulted.

Environment Protection

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what  (a) the total funding received from the business resource efficiency and waste programme and other Government sources,  (b) the total landfill diverted in tonnes,  (c) the total carbon dioxide saved in tonnes,  (d) the amount of virgin materials saved in tonnes,  (e) the amount of hazardous waste reduced in tonnes and  (f) the amount of water saved in tonnes was by (i) the Carbon Trust, (ii) Envirowise, (iii) the National Industrial Symbiosis programme and (iv) WRAP in (A) 2005-06 and (B) 2006-07.

Joan Ruddock: DEFRA's BREW programme is returning 284 million raised from the landfill tax escalator back to businesses between 2005 and 2008. Work is being taken forward to improve businesses' resource efficiency and to minimise waste that is unnecessarily sent to landfill. Funds are awarded to a number of regional and national BREW delivery bodies. Allocations for 2005 to 2007 are set out in the following table.
	
		
			   million 
			  Delivery body  Budget 2005-06  Budget 2006-07 
			 Action Sustainability 0 0.219 
			 Carbon Trust 3 23.382 
			 DEFRA's Waste Data Strategy 0.5 2.1 
			 Environment Agency 2 4.454 
			 Envirowise 12 16.772 
			 Market Transformation Programme 2.65 2.8955 
			 National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (NISP) 2.675 5.7 
			 Regional Development Agencies 5 11.71 
			 Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts Business Reuse Fund 0 2 
			 Technology Strategy Board 2 5.654 
			 WRAP 2.854 6.288 
			 Other (includes coordination, communication, pilot projects, funding for agricultural waste project and programme contingency fund) 0.321 3.24 
			 Total 33 84.415 
		
	
	The BREW programme has also continued to provide funding towards other business resource efficiency and waste activities in England, as shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Delivery  b ody  Activity  2006-07 funding ( million) 
			 Carbon Trust Energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction activities 13.618 
			 WRAP Work with the construction, manufacturing, retail and recycling and reprocessing industries to reduce waste and encourage recycling 4.7 
			 Total  18.318 
		
	
	In 2005-06, the delivery bodies referred to in the question achieved the short-term savings aggregated in the following table. These show the results for 18.5 million of all 33 million of projects funded from the BREW programme.
	The results must be viewed with caution, since delivery bodies report according to a range of methodologies. Work is under way to improve consistency of this reporting and to apply reporting more widely. The results are only for BREW-funded activities. Some savings will result from these interventions in future years, which are not counted here.
	
		
			  Metric  In-year result 
			 (1) Waste diverted from landfill 675,000 tonnes 
			 (2) Carbon savings 320,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide 
			 (3) Virgin raw material savings 682,000 tonnes 
			 (4) Hazardous waste savings 120,000 tonnes 
			 (5) Water savings 5,630,000 cubic metres 
		
	
	DEFRA has not yet released individual delivery body results for 2005-06. These include some selected long-term results, which are not included in this table. Similarly, work is currently under way to verify BREW programme results for 2006-07. I will deposit both sets of results in the House Library when they are ready.
	In addition to funding from the BREW programme, DEFRA has provided the following funding to the delivery bodies below. NISP has not received any non-BREW funding from DEFRA.
	
		
			 million 
			   2005-06  2006-07 
			 Carbon Trust 57.6 41 .644 
			 Envirowise 2.292 2.292 
			 WRAP 67.605 51 .58

Environmental Research Institute: Finance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how much has been committed from the private sector to date for the Environmental Research Institute;
	(2)  which organisations have pledged contributions to the Environmental Research Institute.

Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
	In his 2006 Budget Statement, the Prime Minister announced the intention to create a new energy and environmental research institute. The Energy Technologies Institute was legally established on 12 December 2007 as a Limited Liability Partnership. Private-sector partners are BP, Caterpillar, EDF Energy, EON UK, Rolls-Royce and Shell, together contributing up to 300 million over 10 years. Additional private sector partners are being sought to match the Government's commitment of up to 550 million, and to achieve a budget of up to 1.1 billion for the ETI over the next decade.

European Fisheries Fund

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1270W, on the European Fisheries Fund, whether he submitted the UK National Strategic Plan to the European Commission by 31 December 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The NSP has now been finalised, and I expect to formally submit it to the Commission shortly.

Fish: Conservation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to preserve endangered fish stocks in UK waters.

Jonathan R Shaw: The UK Government are committed to the conservation of fish stocks. The common fisheries policy provides a framework for co-operation at European Union level. We continue to play an active role in negotiating improvements to the policy designed to provide more sustainable long-term fisheries management. We are working to ensure that depleted stocks are recovered and subsequently conserved, while at the same time delivering, in so far as we can, a viable future for the fishing industry.

Fisheries

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the value of fish caught by the 10 metre and under fleet in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The value at current prices of reported fish landings by the UK 10 metre and under fleet is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Landings by the UK 10 m and under fleet 
			million 
			  Year  Value 
			 1997 47.0 
			 1998 50.4 
			 1999 48.5 
			 2000 44.5 
			 2001 44.8 
			 2002 43.4 
			 2003 46.3 
			 2004 47.4 
			 2005 38.1 
			 2006 76.2 
		
	
	The sharp increase in value in 2006 is a result of the introduction, by UK fishery administrations, of a scheme of registration for buyers and sellers of first sale fish. This has led to improved landings information for the 10 metre and under fleet. Figures for 2006 are therefore not comparable with those from earlier years.

Fisheries: Quotas

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the distribution of 2008 fishing quota to  (a) producer organisations,  (b) the 10 metre and under fleet and  (c) the non-sector; what the estimated value is of this quota; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Work is under way to allocate UK quotas to industry sectors, but it is not yet complete. It is not possible to make the allocations until final catch data for 2007 are available in order to assess whether penalties or compensation should apply. We also need to know what quota for 2008, in addition to that allocated to the UK at the December Council, is available. Officials are working to a timetable to make provisional quota allocations by mid April, and final allocations by mid May.
	It is not possible to make any estimate of the value of the quotas until the allocations are made.

Fisheries: Quotas

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to allow the 10 metre and under fleet to lease quota in 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 12 December 2007,  Official Report, column 703W.

Fisheries: Quotas

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has identified possible quota swaps to benefit the 10 metre and under fleet; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Two international swaps have been completed with Germany and the Netherlands to acquire an additional 150 tonnes of value North Sea sole quota for inshore fishermen operating in the southern North Sea. We are continuing to explore the scope for further swaps to boost fishing opportunities in key 10 metre and under fisheries.

Fisheries: Regulation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the level of compliance with regulations and rules for which he is responsible within the seafood and fishing industry in  (a) England,  (b) Wales,  (c) Scotland and  (d) Northern Ireland.

Jonathan R Shaw: It is difficult to make an accurate formal assessment of levels of compliance due to the diverse fishery activity occurring in our waters. However, during 2006, the last year for which complete figures are available, the Marine and Fisheries Agency undertook some 11,744 inspections, of which 298 revealed one or more offences (some 412 infringements). Compliance in Scotland and Northern Ireland is a devolved issue.

Fisheries: Subsidies

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  which countries have submitted their European Fisheries Fund Operational Programme to the European Commission; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  which countries have had their European Fisheries Fund Operational Programme approved by the European Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Twenty five member states have formally submitted their Operational Programmes to the European Commission. Of these, 20 have been approved.

Flood Control

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will accept interim conclusion number IC33 of the Pitt Review and bring forward legislation to update flooding legislation.

Phil Woolas: The interim report sets out 72 interim conclusions, on which Sir Michael is seeking views before he publishes his final report. The Government will carefully consider these and respond to him, including the suggestion for legislative change. However, the Government are committed to early action on the urgent recommendations in the reportincluding for better identification of areas at risk from surface water and groundwater flooding. It is committed to bringing forward a complete package of measures that will ensure flood and coastal erosion risk is managed in a sustainable and holistic manner and avoiding a piecemeal approach to managing risk.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the value of excess payments requested in respect of Warm Front grants has been in  (a) Shropshire,  (b) west midlands and  (c) England in 2007-08.

Phil Woolas: Between 1 April and 30 November 2007, the following client contributions were requested under the Warm Front scheme:
	
		
			
			  Area  Total value of excess requirements 
			 Shropshire 288,347.38 
			 West midlands 4,031,045.68 
			 Total 23,609,213.88

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his Department's policy is on excess payments for Warm Front scheme projects being paid  (a) directly and  (b) in cash by householders to contractors.

Phil Woolas: Clients are asked to pay excess payment contributions directly to the installation company in order that the work can proceed as quickly as possible, and to reduce the administrative costs of another agency handling the payment.
	The preferred method of payment for both parties is a matter for the client and the contractor.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the White Young Green assessment of Warm Front will be made available to hon. Members and the general public.

Phil Woolas: Two recent reviews of Warm Front pricing will be made available on the DEFRA website by the end of February.
	Other Warm Front quality assessment reports can be requested from my Department.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme: Heating

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many radiators have been installed through Warm Front; and in how many homes.

Phil Woolas: Since June 2005, 353,999 radiators have been installed in 83,628 households.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme: Hendon

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many pensioner households in Hendon have received grants under the Warm Front scheme; what the cost of those grants has been; what the average grant was; what grants are available under the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Since the start of Warm Front, 786 pensioner households in Hendon have received grants. The total cost of these grants is 938,111.92, with the average grant being 718.31.
	The Warm Front Scheme offers eligible households grants of up to 2,700, or 4,000 where an oil system is recommended. For pensioner households not eligible for a main grant, Warm Front offers a 300 voucher towards the cost of a heating measure.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme: Iguana Services

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of Warm Front grants have been awarded to Iguana Services Limited  (a) by number and  (b) by value in each of the last three years.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			   Total number of heating installations under Warm Front  Total number of heating installations completed by Iguana  Percentage of installations completed by Iguana 
			 2005-06 44,567 6,301 14.14 
			 2006-07 86,828 25,324 29.17 
			 2007-08 85,550 24,241 28.34 
			 Total 216,945 55,866 26 
		
	
	
		
			   Total  value  of  heating installations under Warm Front  Total  value o f heating installations completed by Iguana  Proportion of value of installations completed by Iguana 
			 2005-06 75,359,434.38 5,035,666.68 6.68 
			 2006-07 145,183,356.58 30,457,998.67 20.98 
			 2007-08 150,377,506.58 37,044,220.00 24.63 
			 Total 370,920,297.54 72,537,885.35 19.52

Oil: Moray Firth

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on oil and gas exploration at the Moray Firth; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Hilary Benn) had no recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on oil and gas exploration at the Moray Firth.

Pitt Review

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which of the 15 recommendations for urgent action made by the Pitt review he plans to act on immediately; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Government have said that it agrees with all 15 of the urgent recommendations in the report and we will work with all of the organisations involved to implement them.

Railways

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent by his Department on first class train tickets in the last 12 months.

Jonathan R Shaw: From information held centrally, the core-Department spent 1,030,331 on first-class train tickets in the period October 2006 to September 2007 inclusive.
	First-class travel by Ministers, by officials accompanying Ministers and by officials is undertaken in accordance with departmental guidance which encourages people to use public transport wherever possible.
	Not all rail travel taken is first class.

Sea Fisheries Committees

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to increase the representation of recreational sea anglers on Sea Fisheries Committees; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Recreational sea anglers are currently represented on each SFC. All appointments to SFCs made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State last for a maximum of four years and the current round of appointments will end on 30 June 2009. The Marine Bill White Paper set out proposals to reform SFCs in England, including adjustments to their membership structure to improve decision-making and local stakeholder involvement. Sea anglers will continue to be represented on reformed SFCs but I have not at this stage made any decisions regarding the future level of that representation.

Sea Fisheries Committees

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many recreational sea angling representatives were on each Sea Fisheries Committee in each year since 1997.

Jonathan R Shaw: All appointments to SFCs made by the Secretary of State last for a four year period. For the appointment periods 2001-05 and 2005-09, each SFC had the following number of appointees with a known interest in sea angling (information for 1997-2001 is not readily accessible in the format required):
	
		
			  SFC  2001-05  2005-09 
			 Cornwall 1 2 
			 Cumbria 0 1 
			 Devon 1 2 
			 Eastern 0 2 
			 Isles of Scilly 1 1 
			 Kent and Essex 1 2 
			 Northumberland 1 2 
			 North Eastern 3 4 
			 North Western and North Wales 1 2 
			 Southern 1 1 
			 Sussex 1 2 
		
	
	Within the above appointment periods, the level of angler representation may have varied in some instances where vacancies have arisen due to resignations.
	Members appointed by the Secretary of State are required to represent all the local fishing and marine environmental interests in the SFC district in a balanced way. Appointees are reminded that they should not regard themselves as representing any one particular interest, and may have experience across several sectors.
	Appointments to South Wales SFC are a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government.

Sea Fishing: Licensing

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether he plans to introduce a recreational sea angling licence; what estimate he has made of the revenue that a recreational sea angling licence would raise; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  pursuant to the Marine Bill White Paper and associated Regulatory Impact Assessment, what estimate he has made of the cost of administering and enforcing a recreational sea angling licence; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  pursuant to the Marine Bill White Paper and associated Regulatory Impact Assessment, to what use the revenue raised from a recreational sea angling licence would be put; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Marine Bill White Paper published in March 2007 includes proposals to introduce a chargeable licensing scheme for recreational sea angling. The RIA accompanying the White Paper estimated that the revenue from such a scheme could generate 9 million to 12 million per annum in licence fees, depending on uptake and the rate of the charge. The RIA also estimated the one-off set-up cost to the Government could be between 0.1 million to 1.5 million, with annual running costs including enforcement between 1.2 million and 2.8 million, depending on how the scheme is implemented and the level of compliance.
	The White Paper explained that the revenue raised from a recreational sea angling licence would be used to help support measures such as:
	(i) improved scientific data to inform the development of management measures for stocks of specific interest to anglers;
	(ii) protection and improvement of shore access and parking;
	(iii) provision of more small boat launching facilities;
	(iv) access to existing and new shore structures;
	(v) creation of artificial inshore and offshore reefs; and
	(vi) clear displays of relevant rules, codes of conduct and other useful data on the shore, at boat launch sites and aboard charter boats
	The revenue would also cover the costs of administration, monitoring and inspection and evaluation of any measures introduced for the benefit of anglers.

Seas and Oceans: Legislation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy not to introduce the draft Marine Bill before the Planning and the Energy Bills receive Royal Assent; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 868W.

Shellfish

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has reached an agreed approach on  (a) brown crab and  (b) lobster conservation with the devolved Administrations; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA is in discussion with the devolved Administrations to explore whether an agreed approach would be the most appropriate course of action in relation to brown crab and lobster conservation.

Stray Dogs

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the reasons were for the decision to transfer responsibility for stray dogs from the police to local authorities.

Jonathan R Shaw: In July 2002, the Police Bureaucracy Taskforce made recommendations on the transfer of a range of ancillary tasks from the police service to other agencies in order to free up officer time to focus on core policing activities. Included in those recommendations was that responsibility for stray dogs should become the sole responsibility of local authorities. Implementation of the recommendation was agreed by the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Local Government Association. Parliamentary approval was received by enactment of section 68 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 which removes any statutory responsibility on the police for stray dogs. The provision is due to be commenced on 6 April 2008.

Waste Management: Finance

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been allocated to research and development on the waste management programme in each of the next three years; and from what budget these resources will be drawn.

Joan Ruddock: DEFRA was allocated a total budget of about 4 billion under the comprehensive spending review for 2008-11.
	No allocations have yet been determined for research and development on DEFRA's waste management programme, although the Department expects to do so before March this year.

Water Supply

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to encourage private water boards to improve their pipe networks to prevent leaks and wastage.

Phil Woolas: The independent regulator, the Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) sets leakage targets for the water companies and has regulatory powers which it can use should it consider that to be necessary. Across England and Wales leakage has been reduced by 24 per cent. overall since 1997 and most companies continue to meet the targets set by Ofwat. Ofwat has set water companies targets to reduce leakage by a further 2.9 per cent. from 2006-07 levels by 2009-10.

Water: Meters

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to impose compulsory water meters on currently unmetered family homes.

Phil Woolas: Under the Water Industry Act 1999 water companies have powers to impose a meter on an individual household for discretionary purposes. They may also make a case that the water resources situation in their area requires compulsory metering of all properties.

Whaling

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with  (a) the Prime Minister and  (b) Cabinet colleagues in relation to whaling since the IWC59 meeting of the International Whaling Commission; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he last wrote to his Cabinet colleagues about whaling; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  with reference to the answer of 19 February 2007,  Official Report, column 195W, on whaling, whether he has received a response to the letters sent to his Cabinet colleagues; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  with reference to the answer of 19 February 2007,  Official Report, column 195W, on whaling, when Cabinet colleagues have drawn to the attention of their foreign counterparts the subject of  (a) whaling,  (b) whale conservation and  (c) the whale watching industry; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Cabinet members, along with all hon. Members, were sent a 'Dear Colleague' letter sent by my predecessor in June last year, which provided a full report of the outcome of last year's annual IWC meeting. The letter emphasised the UK's efforts to increase the number of conservation-minded countries in the IWC. The report of the meeting made clear that the UK remains vigorously opposed to whaling and details our position on issues such as the importance of welfare considerations and whale watching.
	The UK has led efforts to recruit more conservation-minded countries to the IWC through our publication 'Protecting WhalesA Global Responsibility'. The Prime Minister emphasises the UK's strong commitment to whale conservation in the foreword to this document stating:
	I urge Governments to join the UK, and other anti-whaling countries, in the International Whaling Commission to maintain the moratorium on commercial whaling so that our generation meets its responsibility to protect whales.
	This year, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is also writing to 18 countries encouraging them to join the IWC for the greater protection of whales. In the coming weeks, Foreign and Commonwealth Office posts will deliver the updated version of the leaflet 'Protecting WhalesA Global Responsibility' to host Governments and lobby to support the UK's position. FCO posts are aware of the need to watch for indications that countries, including some mentioned in the answer of 19 February 2007,  Official Report, column 195W, may join the IWC and adopt a pro-whaling stance. Posts in the relevant capitals are briefed, supplied with copies of our publication and engage in discussion with their counterparts on whaling at every appropriate opportunity. Such countries are left in no doubt as to the importance that the UK attaches to whale conservation.
	As a result of the correspondence over lobbying mentioned by my predecessor in his answer of 19 February 2007,  Official Report, column 195W prior to the 2007 Annual IWC Meeting in Anchorage, the UK and its like-minded allies managed to recruit six countries into the IWC, so that the pro-whaling majority in that organisation was overturned. In a further response to UK lobbying efforts, several other countries have indicated willingness to support our opposition to Japanese whaling and to join the IWC in time for this year's annual meeting in Santiago, Chile in June.

Whales: Japan

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to secure a complete ban on whaling by the Japanese Government.

Jonathan R Shaw: The UK Government have consistently voiced its opposition to Japanese scientific whaling. Most recently, on 8 January, I called in the Deputy Ambassador from the Japanese Embassy in London to express the UK's outrage, and urge Japan to end its slaughter of whales.
	On 21 December 2007, the UK, along with 29 other countries, took part in a demarch to the Japanese Government calling on Japan to
	cease all its lethal scientific research on whales, and assure the immediate return of the vessels which are implementing JARPA II (the Japanese scientific Research Programme in the Antarctic).

White Fish: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to introduce measures to improve bass conservation and bass stocks; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea in 2004 suggested that the bass stock is fished sustainably. Last year I announced a review of bass nursery areas and inshore netting restrictions with a view to providing additional protection for stocks of bass. The first step will be to engage with stakeholders to agree how and when to take this work forward collaboratively this year.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Drugs

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total expenditure on promoting alternative livelihoods to the drugs trade in Afghanistan was in each year since 2001.

Shahid Malik: Prior to 2003-04 much of DFID funding in Afghanistan focused on humanitarian assistance. By March 2007 DFID had spent 91.5 million on supporting alternative livelihoods to the drugs trade since 2001.
	
		
			
			  Financial year  Amount in GBP 
			 2001-02 144,079 
			 2002-03 36,699 
			 2003-04 5,205,33 
			 2004-05 7,350,806 
			 2005-06 44,072,886 
			 2006-07 34,460,725

Afghanistan: International Assistance

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total expenditure on reconstruction and aid for Afghanistan was in each year since 2001.

Shahid Malik: Details of the UK's bilateral assistance and imputed multilateral assistance to Afghanistan since 2001 are laid out in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table 1: UK total bilateral gross public expenditure on development 2001-02 to 2006-07 
			   000 
			   Afghanistan 
			 2001-02 50,027 
			 2002-03 76,018 
			 2003-04 99,595 
			 2004-05 98,959 
			 2005-06 126,949 
			 2006-07 123,011 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Imputed UK share of multilateral official development assistance (ODA) 2001 to 2005 
			   000 
			   Afghanistan 
			 2001 7,064 
			 2002 23,300 
			 2003 36,789 
			 2004 27,676 
			 2005 39,864

Departmental Pay

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1255W, on departmental pay, how many of those earning over 100,000 were employed  (a) as special advisers and  (b) in a political role in each year since 1997.

Douglas Alexander: Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the number of special advisers in each pay band. For the most recent information I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, 147-151WS.
	Information on the numbers and costs of special advisers prior to 2003 was provided at regular intervals and this information will be available in the Library of the House.

Ethiopia: Foreign Exchange

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 414-5W, on Ethiopia: foreign exchange, what the  (a) exchange rate obtained,  (b) value of commission paid,  (c) name of the exchange institution or bank used and  (d) purpose of the transaction was of DFID Ethiopia's currency exchanges of (i) 27 July 2007 and (ii) 8 October 2007.

Gareth Thomas: (a) The exchange rates obtained were (i) 18.4789 Birr = 1 and (ii) 18.3706 Birr = 1 respectively.
	 (b) The value of commission paid was (i) 626.57 and (ii) 625.00 respectively.
	 (c) The transactions were made through the international banking division of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia.
	 (d) Both transactions were made to fund payments in local currency.

Sudan

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to the answer of 5 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1624W, on Sudan, what proportion of the grant aid given by his Department to the UN high commission for refugees was spent upon that organisation's priority areas of vaccination and veterinary care in co-operation with the Chadian government's livestock delegation and promoting the breeding of smaller animals (sheep and poultry) better suited to vulnerable refugees living in camps.

Gareth Thomas: In 2007, DFID gave the Office for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 2 million to support their operations in Chad. Our contribution was to their overall appeal rather than to specific parts of their programme. Under the Good Humanitarian Donorship initiative, we do not require separate reporting for DFID against each activity and it is not therefore possible to determine DFID support to this particular aspect of their programme. In total, however, the livestock component of UNHCR's programme was around 400,000 in 2007.

Tanzania: Overseas Investment

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2008 to question 166007, what steps he has taken, in conjunction with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, following his briefing by the UK High Commissioner in Dar es Salaam on 26 and 27 November 2007, in relation to the case of Mr. Stewart Middleton and Ms Sarah Hermitage.

Douglas Alexander: I raised the case with the President of Tanzania on 27 November 2007. Our high commissioner subsequently followed up that conversation with the Tanzanian Chief Secretary, who undertook to look into the matter with the relevant authorities. The Chief Secretary confirmed that it was his Government's intention that the issue should be justly and expeditiously resolved.

SCOTLAND

English Language

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available.

David Cairns: Nothing.

Fuel Poverty

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans his Department has to contribute to the reduction of fuel poverty in Scotland; and what account he has taken of the Scottish House Condition Survey in developing such plans.

David Cairns: Tackling fuel poverty is a priority for the Government, with DBERR and DEFRA taking lead responsibility. Across the UK we are taking action to ensure the energy market is working effectively, and continuing to tackle poverty through ensuring adequate levels of income. The UK Fuel Poverty Strategy, and subsequent annual progress reports, set out this work.
	In Scotland initiatives relating to the promotion of energy efficiency are devolved, such as the Central Heating programme and Warm Deal. The Scottish Executive therefore contribute to monitoring progress against the UK Strategy. The 5(th) Annual Progress Report, published in December 2007, draws on data from the Scottish House Condition Survey.

Official Engagements

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his official engagements were between 1 November and 21 November 2007.

Des Browne: My official engagements as Secretary of State for Defence and Secretary of State for Scotland, throughout the period 1 November to 21 November, included various meetings in London and Scotland, including with ministerial colleagues and officials from the MOD and Scotland Office. On Thursday 1 November and Friday 2 November I was overseas visiting service personnel serving in Iraq. On Monday 5 November I met HBOS in Scotland. On Tuesday 6 November I attended the State Opening of Parliament. On Wednesday 7 November I hosted the French Defence Minister for bilateral discussions in London. On Thursday 8 November I attended the British Torch of Remembrance ceremony at Westminster Abbey and met National Grid. On Friday 9 November I visited Diageo with my hon. Friend the Member for Ochil and South Perthshire (Gordon Banks). On Saturday 10 November I attended the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance 2007 event and, on Sunday 11 November, I attended the Remembrance Ceremony at the Cenotaph. On Monday 12 November I met EU ambassadors in London, hosted by the Portuguese ambassador, before attending the Defence debate in the House of Commons. On Tuesday 13 November I met separately with the National Farmers Union Scotland and Scottish Financial Enterprise. On Wednesday 14 November I attended a Sailor, Soldier, Airmen and Families Association reception. On Thursday 15 November I hosted the Romanian Defence Minister for bilateral discussions in London. On Friday 16 November I hosted a reception in Edinburgh for Polish National Day. On Sunday 18 and Monday 19 November I was in Brussels attending a meeting of EU Defence Ministers. On Tuesday 20 November I met The Crown Prince of Bahrain.

Official Engagements

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what engagements he has had since 8 October 2007; and what the  (a) date,  (b) location,  (c) time and  (d) duration was of each engagement.

Des Browne: holding answer 3 December 2007
	 From Monday 8 October to Tuesday 9 October I was in London where I had various meetings, including with ministerial colleagues and officials from the Scotland Office and MOD. On Tuesday 9 October I attended Cabinet, had a telephone conversation with the First Minister of Scotland and attended the Chancellor's statement on the comprehensive spending review. I had no Scotland Office engagements on Wednesday 10 October, Thursday 11 October or Friday 12 October.
	On Saturday 13 October I attended the Scotland v. Ukraine Euro 2008 Qualifier at Hampden Park, Glasgow. On Sunday 14 October I attended the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland Futures performance at Glasgow City Halls.
	From Monday 15 October to Wednesday 17 October I was in London where I had various meetings, including with ministerial colleagues and officials from the Scotland Office and MOD. On Tuesday 16 October I attended Cabinet, and answered Scottish questions at the House of Commons. That evening I attended the Border and Immigration Agency reception in Dover House. On Wednesday 17 October I met the chief executive of Ofgem and that evening I attended the Poppy Scotland reception in Dover House.
	From Thursday 18 October to Saturday 20 October I had no Scotland Office engagements. From Monday 22 October to Tuesday 23 October I was in London where I had various meetings, including with ministerial colleagues and officials from the Scotland Office and MOD. On Tuesday 23 October I attended Cabinet. That afternoon I delivered a statement on the Gould report in the House of Commons. That evening I attended the CBI reception in Dover House. From Wednesday 24 October to Thursday 25 October I had no Scotland Office engagements.
	On Friday 26 October I attended the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce business breakfast. That afternoon I attended the launch of Stagecoach's bio-diesel coaches in Kilmarnock. From Saturday 27 October to Wednesday 31 October I had no Scotland Office engagements.
	My official engagements as Secretary of State for Defence and Secretary of State for Scotland, throughout the period 1 November to 21 November, included various meetings in London and Scotland, including with ministerial colleagues and officials from the MOD and Scotland Office. On Thursday 1 November and Friday 2 November I was overseas visiting service personnel serving in Iraq. On Monday 5 November I met HBOS in Scotland. On Tuesday 6 November I attended the State Opening of Parliament. On Wednesday 7 November I hosted the French Defence Minister for bilateral discussions in London. On Thursday 8 November I attended the British Torch of Remembrance ceremony at Westminster Abbey and met National Grid. On Friday 9 November I visited Diageo with my hon. Friend the Member for Ochil and South Perthshire (Gordon Banks) On Saturday 10 November I attended the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance 2007 event and, on Sunday 11 November, I attended the Remembrance Ceremony at the Cenotaph. On Monday 12 November I met EU ambassadors in London, hosted by the Portuguese ambassador, before attending the Defence debate in the House of Commons. On Tuesday 13 November I met separately with the National Farmers Union Scotland and Scottish Financial Enterprise. On Wednesday 14 November I attended a Sailor, Soldier, Airmen and Families Association reception. On Thursday 15 November I hosted the Romanian Defence Minister for bilateral discussions in London. On Friday 16 November I hosted a reception in Edinburgh for Polish National Day. On Sunday 18 November and Monday 19 November I was in Brussels attending a meeting of EU Defence Ministers. On Tuesday 20 November I met The Crown Prince of Bahrain.
	Throughout the period 22 November to 10 December, I had various meetings in London and Scotland, including with ministerial colleagues and officials from the MOD and Scotland Office. On Thursday 22 November, I had a meeting with the Columbian Defence Minister and a meeting with the Turkish Chief of Defence Staff. On Friday 23 November, I addressed the State of the City Economy Conference in Glasgow. On Wednesday 28 November, I answered oral questions for the Scotland Office in the House of Commons. On Thursday 29 November, I attended a reception to mark the homecoming of 12 Brigade from Iraq. On Saturday 1 December, I visited the Longannet Power Station in Alloa and participated in the Scottish Interfaith Week Come and Play the Diversity Game event in Edinburgh. On Monday 3 December, I answered oral Defence questions in the House of Commons. On Tuesday 4 December, I met service families about the Board of Inquiry findings into the crash of the RAF Nimrod XV230 before attending the House to make a statement about the same. On Wednesday 6 December, I gave oral evidence to the AFPRB and in the evening I attended a Sailor, Soldier, Airmen and Families Association carol service at the Guards' Chapel, Wellington Barracks. On Thursday 8 December, I met representatives from the services charity Forward Edge Battle Area. Between December 7 and December 10, I was overseas visiting service personnel in Afghanistan.

Official Engagements

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his official engagements were from 22 November to 10 December 2007.

Des Browne: Throughout the period 22 November to 10 December, I had various meetings in London and Scotland, including with ministerial colleagues and officials from the MOD and Scotland Office. On Thursday 22 November, I had a meeting with the Columbian Defence Minister and a meeting with the Turkish Chief of Defence Staff. On Friday 23 November, I addressed the State of the City Economy conference in Glasgow. On Wednesday 28 November, I answered oral questions for the Scotland Office in the House of Commons. On Thursday 29 November, I attended a reception to mark the homecoming of 12 Brigade from Iraq. On Saturday 1 December, I visited the Longannet Power Station in Alloa and participated in the Scottish Interfaith Week Come and Play the Diversity Game event in Edinburgh. On Monday 3 December, I answered oral Defence questions in the House of Commons. On Tuesday 4 December, I met with service families about the Board of Inquiry findings into the crash of the RAF Nimrod XV230 before attending the House to make a statement about the same. On Wednesday 6 December, I gave oral evidence to the AFPRB and in the evening I attended a Sailor, Soldier, Airmen and Families Association carol service at the Guards' Chapel, Wellington Barracks. On Thursday 8 December, I met representatives from the services charity Forward Edge Battle Area. Between December 7 and December 10, I was overseas visiting service personnel in Afghanistan.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Alcoholic Drinks: Licensing

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many small businesses had their licences to sell alcohol revoked in 2007 where sales to underage drinkers were cited as the reason.

Gerry Sutcliffe: This information is not held centrally.
	Statistical bulletins on licences to sell alcohol include the number of licences revoked, but do not indicate the reason for revocation, nor the size of premises affected. Licences may be revoked on review for one or more reasons relating to the four licensing objectives, including sales of alcohol to children.
	The latest DCMS Statistical Bulletin on Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment, was published on 8 November 2007 and shows that, between April 2006 and March 2007, there were 695 reviews which resulted in 92 licences being revoked and 91 being suspended.

Definition of Sport

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  why recreational  (a) horse riding and  (b) swimming were included in the new definition of sport;
	(2)  why recreational cycling was excluded from the new definition of sport.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The definition of sport for the local and national government measurement framework from April 2008 will be largely based on the definition of sport currently used for the Comprehensive Performance Assessment framework. This is set out in the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport's letter to the Local Government Association of 21 December 2007, a copy of which has been placed in the House Library.
	The Secretary of State has asked Sport England to develop a new strategy for how it will deliver a world class community sport infrastructure of clubs, coaches, volunteers and facilities.
	This new focus will deliver the provision of excellent sport opportunities from the grassroots up, sustaining and increasing participation and allowing everyone to develop their sporting talents at every level.
	Sport England's tighter focus on sport will mean that some activities may fall outside Sport England's remit and funding. Decisions have not yet been taken on what activities fall within or outside of Sport England's remit.
	To ensure that gaps do not appear, Her Majesty's Treasury is leading wider cross-Government work on creating a physical strategy for all, which should be completed by the end of March 2008.
	DCMS has a clear Government lead on delivering sport and believes a tighter definition of sport will ensure Lottery and Exchequer funding through Sport England will more effectively deliver an excellent sporting infrastructure. Investment in wider physical activity falls to other Government Departments and agencies who have the policy and funding lead.

Departmental Contracts

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the  (a) objective and  (b) value was of each contract placed with (i) Deloitte and Touche, (ii) Ernst and Young, (iii) KPMG, (iv) PricewaterhouseCoopers and (v) PA Consulting by his Department and its agencies in each year since 2004-05.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The following contracts are those awarded over the stated time period:
	
		
			  Contract  Date   
			 (i) Deloitte and Touche   
			 Undertaking of sports strategy September 2004 24,000 
			 Undertaking of Olympic programme assurance November 2006 50,000 
			 Conducting ICT security compliance/review. October 2007 58,000 
			
			 (ii) Ernst and Young Nil Return  
			
			 (iii) KPMG   
			 To provide validation of Olympic costs. November 2005 255,000 
			
			 (iv) PricewaterhouseCoopers   
			 Review of Olympic cost validation May 2004 114,000 
			 Study of impact of Olympic Games October 2004 72,000 
			 Accountancy advice on fees to be charged through Licensing Act 2003 December 2004 29,500 
			 Examination of Government sponsorship of British Library. February 2005 24,000 
			 Review of public library standards. August 2006 99,570 
			 Provision of economic advice for Olympics February 2007 17,000 
			 To ensure VAT regulations/compliance are met April 2007 18,000 
			 Appraisal and Evaluation of Olympic Games Legacy October 2007 78,000 
			 Assessment of costs/benefits of World Heritage Site May 2007 69,000 
			
			 (v) PA Consulting   
			 Delivery of strategic framework to respond to priorities of local communities. February 2004 151,410 
			 Provision of advice on agency's governance arrangements April 2006 26,000 
		
	
	The return includes Royal Parks Agency.

Departmental Correspondence

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which section in his Department is responsible for answering correspondence from hon. Members and peers; and how many staff work in that section.

Gerry Sutcliffe: DCMS have a central teamthe Central Information and Briefing Unitthat drafts the majority of responses to correspondence from hon. Members and peers and the general public. This team is currently staffed at just under 17 full-time equivalents (FTE), but has a variety of other non-correspondence duties. In addition, some responses (roughly a quarter of the overall volume) are drafted in full by officials working directly on the policy area in question.
	DCMS aims to provide a comprehensive and responsive service to its inquiries, and the central team have contributed significantly toward this aim. From 1 January 2007 to 31 October 2007 (the last date where data is currently available) the Department responded to 74.35 per cent. of hon. Members and peers letters within 20 working days of receipt, and 90.58 per cent. of correspondence from the general public to the same timescale.

Gambling

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the use of fixed odds betting terminals remains under review following publication of the British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2007; and what evidence his Department is gathering on these machines to evaluate their impact on gambling behaviour.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The 2005 Gambling Act regulates fixed odds betting terminals for the first time and allows a maximum of four machines per licensed betting premises. However, if there is evidence of harm from particular forms of gambling, including individual categories of gaming machines, the Government have the power to place further restrictions on operators.
	The Gambling Commission is also planning a programme of secondary analysis of the British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2007 data which will look more closely at the risk factors associated with problem gambling. The risks associated with gaming machines will be considered within this context.

Gambling

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received from  (a) the Responsibility in Gambling Trust and  (b) GamCare on the impact of the Gambling Act 2005 on problem gambling.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Following the implementation of the Gambling Act 2005 on 1 September 2007, Ministers and officials continue to hold meetings with key stakeholders including the RiGT and GamCare and which have included representations on a range of issues, including problem gambling.
	The Gambling Commission has also recently launched a first consultation paper on the Review of Research, Education and Treatment for problem gambling and has invited views from a broad range of stakeholders including GamCare and RiGT.

Gambling

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans the Gambling Commission has to undertake further research into problem gambling following the publication of the British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2007, with particular reference to problem gambling associated with fixed odds betting terminals.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Following publication of the British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2007, the Gambling Commission is planning a programme of secondary research which will look at a range of risk factors associated with problem gambling. The risks associated with gaming machines will be considered within this context. The research will be commissioned shortly.

Gyms: Finance

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department has allocated to mobile gymnasia in each year since 2005-06; and how much is likely to be allocated to such facilities in  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10 and  (c) 2011-12.

Gerry Sutcliffe: There is no national funding programme specifically set up to support the provision of mobile gymnasia. Each Sport England region has an open application process to consider both capital and revenue projects and provides funding based on individual merit.
	In the period 2005 to 2008, Sport England committed 896,007 to two mobile gymnasia projects. The first of these projects was completed in 2005 at a total cost to Sport England of 641,635. The project attracted an additional 483,906 in partnership funding. The second project was allocated funding of 254,372 to be spent over the three year period 2005 to 2008.
	The allocation of funding by Sport England for the provision of mobile gymnasia in the period 2008 to 2012 will be subject to the consideration and merit of all submitted projects.

National Lottery: Community Development

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of National Lottery funding for good causes, excluding resources for the 2012 Olympic Games, will be available for community projects in each of the next 10 years.

James Purnell: All non-Olympic Lottery funding is essentially available to community projects in all the non-Olympic good cause sectors, namely the arts, sport, heritage and the areas supported by the Big Lottery Fund. There is no clear distinction between community projects and those with wider national or regional significance, or grants to individuals for public benefit. Decisions on which Lottery applications to support are made at arm's length by the independent distributing bodies.
	On current projections, even before these are revised to take account of likely returns under the third licence, over 5 billion of fresh Lottery income will be raised for the non-Olympic good causes in the five years from 2008-09 to 2012-13. This, together with further income raised until at least 2019, will be shared half for Big Lottery Fund causes, and a sixth each for sport, art and heritage.

Sports: National Lottery

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what account will be taken of the new definition of sport in considering national lottery funding applications for community projects.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Sport England is currently developing a new strategy to build a world class community sports infrastructure for 2008 to 2011. As part of this work, it is considering what activities should fall within its remit to fund sport.
	Lottery distributing bodies operate at arm's length from Government, therefore Sport England will continue to take decisions independently on which community project applications receive lottery funding.

UK Sport: Finance

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will break down the 30,000 allocated by UK Sport to the 2008 Legacy Lives Conference in Barbados by main budget heading; how many UK representatives are planned to attend the conference and at what cost per head; and how many of such representatives are expected to be UK Sport officials.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 14 January 2008
	The 30,000 allocated by UK Sport to the 2008 Legacy Lives Conference is an award made to support the overall running costs of the event.
	As the UK's lead agency for world class events, UK Sport has made this award from its international directorate budget as part of its ongoing strategy to promote greater knowledge and debate about the legacy benefits that arise from public investment in major sporting events. UK Sport aims to be a world leader in legacy benefits and its ambition is to influence event owners worldwide as to the importance of harnessing this element of major sporting events.
	Two representatives will attend from the UK, both from UK Sport, following invitations to be a keynote speaker and a workshop moderator. As well as giving a keynote address, John Scott is also attending meetings in Barbados with colleagues from the Association of National Anti-Doping Organisations, of which he is vice-president.
	The cost per head is approximately 1,500 and this has been met entirely from resources within the original 30,000 investment.

UK Sport: Finance

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate UK Sport has made of the cost of sending a British baseball team to the final 2008 Olympics qualification event in Taiwan.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 14 January 2008
	UK Sport's current investment strategy does not provide funding to baseball and has therefore made no estimate of the cost of sending a British baseball team to the final 2008 Olympics qualification event in Taiwan.
	The sport will not receive world class funding in the future as it is not on the competition programme for London 2012.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Burglary: Businesses

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many burglaries were reported in business premises and how many persons were convicted in each Police Service of Northern Ireland District Command Unit in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Goggins: Table 1 shows the number of offences of non-domestic burglary recorded from 2001-02 to 2006-07 by District Command Unit. As the DCU structure was only in place from 2001-02 figures are not provided prior to this financial year.
	Non-domestic burglaries include burglaries which have occurred at locations which are not business premises, for example vacant houses, hotel rooms let out on short-stay basis, holiday homes/caravans not in use at the time, and also other buildings such as schools, halls etc. which may not be considered to be businesses. A manual trawl of each record would be required to establish whether the non-domestic burglary related to a business premises.
	The number of recorded non-domestic burglaries fell by 3,296 (41.5 per cent.) between 2001-02 and 2006-07.
	It is not possible to give the total number of convictions for burglary of a business as the court prosecution and conviction datasets do not contain information in relation to the type of dwelling involved. It is only possible to give the number of convictions for those offences, which refer to a non-dwelling. These are documented in Table 2.
	Data are collated on the basis of principal offence; this means that only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.
	It is not possible routinely to reconcile recorded crime data from PSNI with prosecution and conviction data. Data from PSNI relate to the number of offences whereas data on prosecutions and convictions relate to the number of offenders brought before the courts. In addition, PSNI data denote each offence as it has been initially recorded and this may differ from the offence for which a suspect or suspects are subsequently proceeded against in the courts, therefore prosecution and conviction statistics should not be compared with the number recorded.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of recorded offences of non-domestic burglary 
			  DCU  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Antrim 213 244 257 190 142 141 
			 Ards 325 393 346 266 208 157 
			 East Belfast 403 518 358 283 217 161 
			 North Belfast 454 426 389 294 213 228 
			 South Belfast 736 877 659 899 636 486 
			 West Belfast 246 197 132 132 135 151 
			 Carrickfergus 120 105 84 51 48 41 
			 Castlereagh 275 239 235 137 106 116 
			 Down 351 474 421 264 275 333 
			 Lisburn 389 477 413 266 251 230 
			 Newtownabbey 344 459 392 345 266 246 
			 North Down 346 277 239 204 177 135 
			 Urban Region 4,202 4,686 3,925 3,331 2,674 2,425 
			
			 Armagh 199 171 179 153 151 130 
			 Ballymena 273 322 222 183 162 145 
			 Ballymoney 135 123 78 49 52 43 
			 Banbridge 151 129 128 119 99 131 
			 Coleraine 331 378 348 366 366 301 
			 Cookstown 119 127 112 105 156 80 
			 Craigavon 603 702 607 300 257 221 
			 Dungannon and S Tyrone 196 191 146 125 138 137 
			 Fermanagh 233 228 243 184 165 144 
			 Foyle 450 339 413 291 373 195 
			 Larne 100 134 72 82 81 64 
			 Limavady 130 105 128 102 120 120 
			 Magherafelt 112 88 72 47 51 32 
			 Moyle 61 91 77 39 53 61 
			 Newry and Mourne 329 298 344 353 401 262 
			 Omagh 192 174 137 88 102 85 
			 Strabane 107 123 86 48 71 54 
			 Rural Region 3,721 3,723 3,392 2,634 2,798 2,205 
			 Total 7,926 8,409 7,317 5,965 5,472 4,630 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Prosecutions and convictions for burglary in a non-dwelling by police district command unit 2000 to 2005( 1, 2) 
			   2000  2001 
			  District Command Unit  Prosecutions  Convictions  Prosecutions  Convictions 
			 Antrim 6 6 0 0 
			 Ards 11 11 8 5 
			 Armagh 15 15 9 7 
			 Banbridge 13 11 7 4 
			 Belfast East 30 29 15 12 
			 Belfast North 31 28 22 17 
			 Belfast South 20 18 13 9 
			 Belfast West 36 30 27 21 
			 Ballymena 12 12 20 18 
			 Ballymoney 8 8 8 8 
			 Carrickfergus 6 4 10 9 
			 Coleraine 9 8 14 11 
			 Cookstown 3 3 5 3 
			 Craigavon 12 12 12 5 
			 Castlereagh 3 3 10 9 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone 13 12 15 12 
			 Down 10 6 5 4 
			 Fermanagh 10 7 9 5 
			 Foyle 26 22 37 36 
			 Larne 7 5 12 11 
			 Limavady 4 3 5 5 
			 Lisburn 18 16 13 10 
			 Magherafelt 4 4 1 1 
			 Moyle 1 1 1 1 
			 Newtownabbey 4 3 4 4 
			 North Down 7 7 7 7 
			 Newry and Mourne 6 6 10 8 
			 Omagh 6 5 6 5 
			 Strabane 16 14 9 7 
			 Missing 6 5 6 4 
			 Total 353 314 320 258 
		
	
	
		
			   2002  2003 
			  District Command Unit  Prosecutions  Convictions  Prosecutions  Convictions 
			 Antrim 4 4 5 3 
			 Ards 9 8 5 5 
			 Armagh 13 11 15 14 
			 Banbridge 10 9 8 4 
			 Belfast East 19 14 20 20 
			 Belfast North 40 34 39 36 
			 Belfast South 19 13 22 22 
			 Belfast West 20 18 31 27 
			 Ballymena 13 12 13 11 
			 Ballymoney 8 7 3 3 
			 Carrickfergus 6 6 1 1 
			 Coleraine 7 7 7 7 
			 Cookstown 2 2 6 4 
			 Craigavon 17 15 13 8 
			 Castlereagh 13 12 4 4 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone 3 3 8 7 
			 Down 9 9 14 11 
			 Fermanagh 6 6 5 4 
			 Foyle 33 30 27 27 
			 Larne 3 3 5 5 
			 Limavady 3 3 4 2 
			 Lisburn 17 17 18 15 
			 Magherafelt 4 2 4 4 
			 Moyle 3 3 2 2 
			 Newtownabbey 4 3 7 7 
			 North Down 15 14 8 7 
			 Newry and Mourne 8 7 17 12 
			 Omagh 9 9 10 7 
			 Strabane 5 5 5 4 
			 Missing 9 9 7 7 
			 Total 331 295 333 290 
		
	
	
		
			   2004  2005 
			  District Command Unit  Prosecutions  Convictions  Prosecutions  Convictions 
			 Antrim 11 11 2 2 
			 Ards 3 3 8 4 
			 Armagh 7 6 4 4 
			 Banbridge 4 4 5 1 
			 Belfast East 20 16 19 13 
			 Belfast North 37 28 31 26 
			 Belfast South 13 11 14 12 
			 Belfast West 34 29 25 22 
			 Ballymena 14 9 10 9 
			 Ballymoney 1 1 2 2 
			 Carrickfergus 2 1 5 3 
			 Coleraine 14 11 14 11 
			 Cookstown 14 11 6 6 
			 Craigavon 31 26 11 10 
			 Castlereagh 5 5 2 1 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone 6 4 5 4 
			 Down 10 9 8 6 
			 Fermanagh 5 5 8 8 
			 Foyle 32 30 25 20 
			 Larne 2 2 0 0 
			 Limavady 6 6 2 2 
			 Lisburn 21 18 26 22 
			 Magherafelt 5 4 1 1 
			 Moyle 1 1 3 1 
			 Newtownabbey 6 6 9 7 
			 North Down 8 7 9 6 
			 Newry and Mourne 10 9 9 6 
			 Omagh 6 6 5 5 
			 Strabane 2 0 3 1 
			 Missing 7 6 2 2 
			 Total 337 285 273 217 
			 (1) Includes the offences of 'burglary with intent to stealnon-dwelling', 'burglary and theft non-dwelling and burglary and attempted theftnon-dwelling. (2) Missing data relate to those offenders for whom police DCU information is not available.

Emergency Services: Crimes of Violence

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland were charged with attacking emergency service workers in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: While there is no specific offence of attacking emergency service workers, the following tables set out the number of offences against the person and criminal damage offences recorded and cleared where:
	the primary occupation of the victim is recorded as the emergency services (although it is not known whether they were on or off duty at the time of the offence) or;
	the details recorded of the victim indicate emergency servicesthis denotes a general offence against an emergency service rather than a named individual (for instance an attack on a manned police vehicle or ambulance).
	The term offences against the person covers a range of matters of varying severity, from minor incidents to more serious assaults.
	
		
			  Offences against the person where the victim's primary occupation is emergency services( 1) 
			   Offences cleared by means of charge/summons 
			 2002-03 1,626 
			 2003-04 1,748 
			 2004-05 1,861 
			 2005-06 2,121 
			 2006-07 2,315 
			 (1)Offences against the person include offences of assault on police. 
		
	
	
		
			  Criminal damage where the victim is listed as emergency services 
			   Offences cleared by means of charge/summons 
			 2002-03 140 
			 2003-04 191 
			 2004-05 212 
			 2005-06 211 
			 2006-07 282 
		
	
	The PSNI have stressed that these figures include all the emergency services, and that they encompass many incidents which, while categorised as offences against the person, are relatively minor in nature. The majority relate to interactions between police and public during arrests, interventions in assaults etc. rather than deliberate premeditated attacks on police.
	During recent years, as policing with the community embeds, officers are having more and closer interactions with the public during night time economy operations and therefore are more likely to intervene in tense situations.

National Identity Register

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans his Department has to make use of data on the National Identity Register when it is established; and what the estimated annual cost to his Department of that use is.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office will work with the Home Office prior to the introduction of the National Identity Scheme to establish how identity information held on the proposed National Identity Register might be used to provide easier access to the Department's services.
	It is too early in the process to estimate the costs of using the register within the Northern Ireland Office.

Orange Halls

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will bring forward legislative proposals to facilitate the provision of criminal damage compensation in relation to arson attacks on Orange halls.

Paul Goggins: The Orange Order is entitled to make claims for statutory compensation in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Damage (Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1977. Following a meeting in February 2007 between the then Secretary of State and representatives of the Orange Order, Ministers have been working with the Orange Order, PSNI and the Compensation Agency to ensure the existing system operates more effectively.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons he chose the Ridgeback to meet his requirement for additional specialist protected vehicles for Afghanistan.

Bob Ainsworth: Ridgback is the name that will be given to the vehicle that the Ministry of Defence selects to meet the requirement for additional protected patrol vehicles for Afghanistana requirement stated by military commanders. We are considering a number of factors, including mobility, capacity and protection as part of our assessment work. Negotiations are continuing and I am withholding further details on the likely vehicle or vehicles being considered as their release would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness and security of our armed forces.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government have taken to improve the morale of armed forces personnel on operational duty.

Bob Ainsworth: The MOD spends some 54 million per year on the provision of welfare services for our forces on operations. The exact provision of welfare facilities is dependent on location and the operational situation, but wherever possible personnel should receive 30 minutes of free telephone calls per week to anywhere in the world; free e-mail and internet access; a free forces aerogramme (bluey), e-bluey, fax bluey and photo bluey service; a free postal packet service; access to TVs, radios, DVD players and video gaming machines; British Forces Broadcasting Service TV and radio transmissions; books, newspapers, magazines and board games; combined services entertainment live shows and celebrity visits; rest and recuperation (R and R); the provision of basic shop facilities; a free Christmas box; the provision of financial assistance to home units to assist with families' welfare; the provision of concessionary families' travel; and post deployment leave. In both Iraq and Afghanistan, the nature of some operations means that our personnel can often be deployed from a permanent base to a forward operating base where facilities are necessarily more basic, but even in these situations we aim to provide iridium satellite telephones and Textlink e-mail/SMS messaging terminals as a minimum.
	The morale of our forces personnel in operational areas is good.

Armed Forces: Pay

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since 1977 the Government have not implemented in full the recommendations of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body.

Bob Ainsworth: Since 1977, the Government have always implemented in full the recommendations of the AFPRB. The implementation of the AFPRB's recommendations have, however, been staged on seven occasions, but where this has occurred they have always been effected within the same financial year.

Astute Class Submarines: Repairs and Maintenance

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of repairing the Astute submarine damaged during routine tests.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 14 January 2008
	Repair work is currently under way and progressing well. Costs will be agreed between the Department and BAE Systems once all repairs have been completed.

AWE Burghfield

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1035W, on Atomic Weapons Establishment Burghfield, how many safety shortfalls  (a) were identified by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate during the risk assessment,  (b) were resolved by the delayed 27 September 2007 target date,  (c) will shortly be resolved and  (d) will remain unresolved under the current single operation licensing regime imposed by the NII for each warhead handling operation; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: As I indicated in my answer to the hon. Member on 7 January 2008,  Official Report, column 28W, the safety case issues in question were identified not by the NII, but by AWE plc in its own Periodic Review of Safety. A total of 1,000 safety shortfalls were identified and these ultimately translated into 337 improvement packages requiring further action. Of these improvement packages, 234 were completed by 27 September 2007 with a further 50 due to be completed by 31 March 2008. The remaining 53 improvement packages are due to be completed by 31 December 2008.
	It is important to note that NII has made a full assessment of AWE's Periodic Review of Safety and is satisfied that appropriate progress is being made at AWE Burghfield to address the findings. It is emphasised that, if NII believed a particular operation were unsafe, it would not allow it to take place, and has appropriate regulatory powers at its disposal to cease operations.

Defence: Procurement

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value of private sector funds pledged by contractors for each equipment acquisition programme audited by the National Audit Office and reported on in major projects reports published since 2001 is as a percentage of the contract price.

Bob Ainsworth: This information is not held in the format requested.

Departmental Public Buildings

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of listed departmental buildings are in a  (a) good,  (b) fair,  (c) poor and  (d) unknown condition.

Derek Twigg: There are 782 listed buildings on the defence estate. The condition of these buildings at the end of the last financial year and at 9 January 2008 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Category  At 31 March 2007  At 9 January 2008 
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 Good 390 50 435 56 
			 Fair 184 24 187 24 
			 Poor 83 11 84 11 
			 Unknown 125 15 76 9 
			 Total 782 100 782 100 
		
	
	A programme is in place to establish 100 per cent. known condition by the end of this financial year.

Destroyers

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many months each Royal Navy destroyer in service spent  (a) on operations and  (b) in maintenance in each year since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: Following the definitions of operations and maintenance I set out in my letter to the hon. Member on the 5 November, the number of months each Royal Navy Destroyer spent on both in each year since 1997 were as follows:
	
		
			   1997  1998  1999 
			  Vessel  Op time  Maintenance  Op time  Maintenance  Op time  Maintenance 
			 Edinburgh 6 2 7 2 6 3 
			 Gloucester 8 1 3 7 2 4 
			 Manchester 3 3 7 3 4 4 
			 York 7 3 8 2 1 6 
			 Exeter 2 8 0 9 5 2 
			 Liverpool 9 . 2 6 2 7 2 
			 Nottingham 5 2 7 2 2 9 
			 Southampton 8 2 0 12 0 6 
		
	
	
		
			   2000  2002  2002 
			  Vessel  Op time  Maintenance  Op time  Maintenance  Op time  Maintenance 
			 Edinburgh 1 7 7 3 5 2 
			 Gloucester 6 2 7 2 0 12 
			 Manchester 6 5 0 12 1 5 
			 York 6 3 3 4 7 3 
			 Exeter 6 3 7 2 4 5 
			 Liverpool 6 2 0 11 1 5 
			 Nottingham 0 10 4 2 4 8 
			 Southampton 8 1 6 3 7 2 
		
	
	
		
			   2003  2004  2005 
			  Vessel  Op time  Maintenance  Op time  Maintenance  Op time  Maintenance 
			 Edinburgh 6 3 5 3 1 8 
			 Gloucester 1 5 7 2 4 3 
			 Manchester 6 2 4 3 5 3 
			 York 7 2 0 10 6 1 
			 Exeter 1 7 9 2 4 2 
			 Liverpool 9 2 4 3 7 2 
			 Nottingham 0 12 1 6 6 2 
			 Southampton 2 8 4 3 6 2 
		
	
	
		
			   2006 
			  Vessel  Op time  Maintenance 
			 Edinburgh 5 2 
			 Gloucester 6 3 
			 Manchester 1 8 
			 York 7 4 
			 Exeter 3 3 
			 Liverpool 7 3 
			 Nottingham 6 3 
			 Southampton 4 3 
		
	
	The figures given have been rounded to whole months.
	The tables do not include leave, trials and work-up periods.

Ex-servicemen: Suicide

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will record the number of suicides of former UK military personnel who have served in either Iraq or Afghanistan.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 10 January 2008
	 The Ministry of Defence currently publishes data on detailed causes of the mortality (including suicide) of veterans of the 1990-91 operation in the Gulf, together with comparative data for a matched cohort of personnel who did not deploy. We have also commissioned research from the University of Manchester into suicide between 1996 and 2006 among personnel who have left the UK armed forces using data from the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide; we expect this to report later this year.
	We are currently considering whether we should undertake further research, into the detailed causes of mortality for those taking part in the current operations in Iraq (Operation Telic) and Afghanistan (Operation Herrick).

Hercules Aircraft

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the RAF Hercules transport fleet currently in service have been fitted with foam fire suppressant in the wings.

Bob Ainsworth: I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
	All Hercules aircraft that are routinely deployed on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are now fitted with Explosion Suppressant Foam.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department defines current operations in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan as small, medium or large-scale contingencies.

Des Browne: The operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are both classed as medium scale.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) telephones and  (b) computer terminals are currently available to service members for welfare use in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan.

Des Browne: There are currently 151 telephones and 136 computer terminals available solely for welfare purposes to personnel deployed in Iraq. There is, in addition, limited wireless internet coverage at the Contingency Operating Base in Basra. There are currently 213 telephones and 85 computer terminals available solely for welfare purposes to personnel deployed in Afghanistan. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced on 8 October 2007,  Official Report, column 24, work is in hand to expand these numbers and provide free wireless internet to both theatres.

Military Aircraft

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the planned out of service dates for all fixed-wing aircraft were in each year since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: Full information on historic out of service dates for all fixed-wing aircraft is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Such information in respect of the current fleet as is readily available is provided in the following table. The table does not include commercially owned aircraft.
	
		
			   Planned out of service date 
			  Aircraft  1997 to 2003( 1)  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Harrier GR7/GR9 2015 2015 2018 2018 2018 
			 Harrier T10/T12 2015 2015 2018 2018 2018 
			 Tornado F3 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 
			 Tornado GR4 2025 2025 2025 2025 2025 
			 Typhoon 2029 2029 2029 2029 2029 
			 Hawk 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 
			 BAe 125 2015 2015 2015 2015 2017 
			 BAe 146 2015 2015 2015 2015 2017 
			 C-17(2) n/a n/a n/a 2031 2031 
			 Hercules C-130K 2010 2010 2010 2010 2012 
			 Hercules C-130J(3) 2030 2030 2030 2030 2030 
			 Islander 2015 2015 2015 2015 (4)2015 
			 Defender 2014 (5)2034 2034 2034 (5)2038 
			 Nimrod MR2(6)  2011 2011 2011 2011 
			 Nimrod R1(7)  
			 Sentry E-3D AEW Mk l 2025 2025 2025 2025 2025 
			 Tristar(8)  2013  2014 2015 
			 VC-10(8)   2013 2013 2014 
			 Dominie 2015 2015 2015 2013 2013 
			 Jetstream T Mk 2 2007 2007 2009 2009 2009 
			 Jetstream T Mk 3 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 
			 Tucano Mk 1 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 
			 Viking Glider 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 
			 Vigilant Glider 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 
			 (1) Out of service dates (OSD) were unchanged during these years except where separately indicated below. (2) The C-17 aircraft was initially acquired on lease in 2000. An agreement was signed in 2006 to purchase the leased aircraft. (3) Aircraft entered service in 1999. (4) On current plans one Islander aircraft will remain in service until 2038. (5) OSD extended as a result of new aircraft entering service. (6) Comprehensive data is unobtainable in the time available. It is known that the OSD was 2006 in 1995. The Major Projects Report 2000 quoted an OSD of 2008. On 17 January 2002 an OSD of 2009 was given in response to a parliamentary question. (7) The OSD of Nimrod Rl is dependent upon Project Helix decisions and will be determined in due course. (8) Comprehensive data is unobtainable in the time available. Known OSDs during 1997-2003 are as follows: Tristar: OSD 2011 in 2002. VC-10: OSD 2007 in 2000, 2010 in 2001, 2011 in 2003 .

Military Bases: USA

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those  (a) establishments and  (b) parcels of land where the US authorities have been granted exclusive occupation by his Department.

Bob Ainsworth: The United States Visiting Force has never been granted exclusive occupation of UK bases; rather they are made available under the terms of the NATO Status of Forces Agreement 1951, and other arrangements. The following establishments in the United Kingdom are currently occupied by the USVF under the terms of the NATO SOFA of 1951:
	Blenheim Crescent, London.
	Joint Maritime Facility at RAF St. Mawgan, Cornwall.
	RAF Alconbury, Cambridgeshire.
	RAF Barford St. John, Oxfordshire
	RAF Croughton, Northants.
	RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire.
	RAF Feltwell, Norfolk
	RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk.
	RAF Menwith Hill, North Yorkshire.
	RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk.
	RAF Molesworth, Cambridgeshire.
	RAF Upwood, Cambridgeshire.
	RAF Welford, Berkshire.
	In addition, Edison House and Providence Court in London are privately owned buildings that MOD leases on behalf of the USVF. The USVF also has family quarters housing allocated to them, in several locations in the UK.
	UK nationals work in a variety of roles at all the principal USVF bases. At RAF Menwith Hill and the Joint Maritime Facility at RAF St. Mawgan there is a joint UK-US mission, where UK nationals are also employed in an operational role.

RAF Lyneham

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what  (a) existing military capabilities and functions will be retained and  (b) new military capabilities and functions will be undertaken at the RAF Lyneham site once the Hercules fleets have been redeployed to RAF Brize Norton; what capabilities and functions undertaken at RAF Lyneham will be relocated; and to where they will be relocated.

Bob Ainsworth: It is not planned to retain any of the current military capabilities or functions at RAF Lyneham after the RAF withdraw from the Station in 2012. The capabilities and functions currently based at RAF Lyneham will be relocated to RAF Brize Norton.
	Programme Belvedere is studying the long-term requirement for military helicopter bases in the UK, and RAF Lyneham is one of a number of sites currently under consideration. This work is still ongoing and no decisions have yet been taken. Once the Programme has reached its conclusions, these will be put forward for consultation and announced in the usual way.

Taliban: Peace Negotiations

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether meetings between the Taliban and the British army would have to receive Ministerial approval from his Department before going ahead.

Des Browne: holding answer 10 January 2008
	 UK operations in Afghanistan are undertaken in accordance with ministerially endorsed policy.

United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has discussed the conclusions of his Department's review of the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office with the Office of Fair Trading.

Derek Twigg: As owner of the UK Hydrographic Office, I commissioned a review of structural and ownership options in February 2007. I have not specifically discussed the conclusions of the study with the Office of Fair Trading, but in light of the OFT's market study on the Commercial Use of Public Information the study team held discussions with the OFT, exploring the handling of public sector data collated and used by the UKHO.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the UK is purchasing the MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle system from the US; what effect this purchase will have on the acquisition and introduction into service of the Watchkeeper UAV system; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: Three MQ-9 UAVs, known as Reaper, have been purchased under urgent operational requirement arrangements to provide an all-weather, persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance capability over a wide geographical area. Reaper provides a separate and complementary capability to that which Watchkeeper will provide, and will not affect the acquisition or introduction into service of Watchkeeper.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether the Watchkeeper Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle is designed to allow full alignment and transparency with manned aircraft for all flight rules, including ability to assess in-flight conditions;
	(2)  whether the Watchkeeper Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle will comply with visual flight rules and instrument flight rules as they affect manned aircraft flying as operational air traffic;
	(3)  whether the Watchkeeper Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle pilot-in-command will have the ability to assess in-flight conditions for visual flight rules flight.

Bob Ainsworth: For a number of technical and regulatory reasons, Watchkeeper, as with other Unmanned Air Vehicles cannot comply with either Visual Flight Rules or Instrument Flight Rules. In the context of UAVs, the Aircraft Commander's responsibility for collision avoidance is discharged by operating the UAV within defined airspace, from which other aircraft are excluded.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Watchkeeper Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle will be pre-programmed with an appropriate contingency plan in circumstances where the pilot-in-command is no longer in control of the TUAV.

Bob Ainsworth: Yes, in the event that communication with the air vehicle is lost it will join a pre-programmed and cleared route. The Watchkeeper software system has a flight plan validation tool that will ensure that the air vehicle will remain within its assigned airspace, and within glide range of designated emergency recovery points.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Watchkeeper Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle pilot-in-command will be provided with an independent means of communication with air traffic control.

Bob Ainsworth: The Watchkeeper system will be equipped with two radios, powered from different supplies, dedicated to air traffic control.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with the Government of Afghanistan on the release from prison of the Taliban leader Mullah Sorkh Naqaibullah.

Kim Howells: We are deeply concerned at the alleged circumstances of the release of Mullah Sorkh Naqaibullah. This is a matter for the Afghan Government and we understand the Afghan National Directorate of Security is investigating the case. We intend to follow the situation closely.

Christmas

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on purchasing Christmas cards in 2007.

Meg Munn: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 8 January 2008,  Official Report, column 445W.

Christmas

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on postage for Christmas cards in 2007.

Meg Munn: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 8 January 2008,  Official Report, column 445W.

Departmental Manpower

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the planned number of departmental staff is for financial years 2008-09 to 2010-11, broken down by strategic priority.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office currently employs some 6,000 UK civil servants (UK-based staff) at home and abroad. The FCO's new strategic workforce plan predicts that over the next five years there will be a net reduction of some 400 staff against this figure.
	As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary told the House on 8 January,  Official Report, column 150, the FCO will be focusing its future policy work on countering terrorism and weapons proliferation; promoting a low carbon high growth local economy; preventing and resolving conflict; and developing effective international institutions. It is not possible to give a breakdown of staff numbers working on each of these priorities over the next few years, since the vast majority of FCO staff work on more than one.

Departmental Manpower

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the average number of departmental staff was for financial years 2001-02 to 2006-07, broken down by post.

Meg Munn: The average number of UK civil servants employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at home and overseas for the financial years 2001-02 to 2006-07 is 6,148.
	We are not able to break this figure down by individual post. This would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Manpower

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the planned number of departmental staff is for financial years 2008-09 to 2010-11, broken down by post.

Meg Munn: The number of Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff at post is under constant review in the light of changing world circumstances, operational requirements and financial constraints. It is therefore not possible to give an accurate estimate of the number of staff at each post over the next three years. In the latest FCO departmental report for financial year 2006-07, the number of staff worldwide employed by the FCO is given as 6,364.

Departmental Manpower

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the average number of departmental staff was for financial years 2001-02 to 2006-07, broken down by strategic priority.

Meg Munn: The vast majority of Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff work on more than one strategic priority. The SPs were introduced in 2003 and updated twice in 2006. It is not therefore possible to give an accurate breakdown of the numbers of staff who worked on each of the SPs.

Disclosure of Information

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Ministers in his Department were told that senior officials in his Department believed that the leaking of documents by Mr. Derek Pasquill had helped to provoke a constructive debate.

Meg Munn: It has never been the view of senior officials that the leaking of documents by Mr. Pasquill helped provoke a constructive debate.

Disclosure of Information

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department made of the harm caused to international relations by Mr. Derek Pasquill's disclosures before the decision was taken to prosecute him.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provided a witness statement to the police setting out our considered assessment of the damage caused, by the disclosures, to international relations under Section 3 of the Official Secrets Act 1989.
	The statement was given by a senior FCO official on behalf of the Department, but FCO Ministers were briefed on its contents.

Disclosure of Information

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Ministers in his Department made to  (a) the Crown Prosecution Service and  (b) law officers in respect of the decision to prosecute Mr. Derek Pasquill under the Official Secrets Act 1989.

Meg Munn: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers made no representation to the Crown Prosecution Service or law officers in respect of their decision to prosecute.

Disclosure of Information

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the classification was of the documents disclosed by Mr. Derek Pasquill which fell within the meaning of the Official Secrets Act 1989.

Meg Munn: The documents disclosed by Mr. Pasquill contained official information ranging in sensitivity and classification, including seven documents classified as confidential and three documents classified as restricted.

India: Christianity

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with the Government of India on  (a) violence and  (b) destruction of Christian churches in the state of Orissa.

Kim Howells: While such incidents remain an internal matter for the Indian authorities, we continue to monitor the situation and seek out opportunities to raise human rights issues, including the need for the right to freedom of religion to be upheld.

Iraq: Christianity

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Iraqi counterpart on the Christian minority in Iraq.

Kim Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Belfast, North (Mr. Dodds) on 27 November 2007,  Official Report, column 346W. Although my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with his counterpart on the Christian minority in Iraq, we recognise that Christians in Iraq, like all other communities, have been badly affected by the high levels of violence in the country.
	We continue to press the Iraqi Government to take action to protect people regardless of faith or political persuasion and to take tough measures against those perpetuating the violence. I raised our concerns about the position of Iraqi Christians in October 2007 with the Iraqi Minister of Human Rights during her visit to the UK.

Palestinians: Travel Restrictions

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on movement restrictions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the form of  (a) checkpoints,  (b) roadblocks,  (c) closures,  (d) road gates,  (e) trenches and  (f) earth mounds (i) operated and (ii) removed by Israel since the start of November 2007.

Jim Murphy: The latest authoritative information that we have is from the Movement and Access Report produced by the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, covering the period 14-17 November 2007, published on 11 January 2008. The report records that 563 obstacles were present in the West Bank, compared with 561 in the previous report. This represents an increase of 185 obstacles, or 49.7 percent. over the baseline figure for August 2005.
	The ability of Palestinians to move within the West Bank has deteriorated due to the continued or increased use of checkpoints, curfews, roadblocks, a permit system and the barrier. Permit and other restrictions have isolated residents of the West Bank from East Jerusalem and from each other.

Terrorism: Finance

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to his  Sunday Times article of 6 January 2008, whether the extra 80 million he intends to spend on counter-radicalism is in addition to the 37 million announced in the comprehensive spending review.

Meg Munn: The 37 million announced in the comprehensive spending review is part of the 80 million that will be spent on counter radicalisation over the next three years.

Trade Unions: EC Grants and Loans

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what trade union programmes are currently funded under EU budget line  (a) 04 03 03 01 and  (b) 04 03 03 03 that pertain to training in (i) arbitration, (ii) industrial action, (iii) employment rights and (iv) work as a shop steward.

Jim Murphy: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold specific information on spending under these budget headings. Information on grants awarded under the social dialogue budget lines are freely available on the Commission's website
	http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/social_dialogue/grants_en.htm.

Turkey: Migration

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the migration consequences for the UK of Turkish membership of the EU; what assessment he has made of these migration consequences; what account he has taken of migration in formulating UK policy on Turkish membership; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: The Government have not commissioned any research specifically on the migration consequences for the UK of Turkish membership of the EU. The European Commission prepared an assessment of Turkish membership before the EU opened negotiations with Turkey in 2005 and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what geographical claims the UK intends to submit to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf on areas off  (a) the north west coast of Scotland,  (b) Northern Ireland and  (c) other UK territories.

Meg Munn: The UK is considering making submissions to the CLCS in respect of four distinct areas, before the right to do so expires in May 2009. The four areas under consideration are:
	'Hatton-Rockall'an area of the north east Atlantic off the north west coast of Scotland;
	the area around Ascension Island;
	areas around the Falkland Islands and South Georgia; and
	the area off British Antarctic Territory.
	In 2006 the UK made a joint submission to the CLCS with France, Ireland and Spain in respect of an area of the Bay of Biscay, and all four states are working with the Commission towards the production of its conclusions.

UN General Assembly: Depleted Uranium

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the United Kingdom voted on the United Nations General Assembly Resolution on the effects of the use of armaments and ammunitions containing depleted uranium, A/C.1.62/L.18/REV/i, on 5 December 2007; which other states voted in the same way; and what the reasons were for the UK vote.

Meg Munn: The UK opposed the resolution on the effects of the use of armaments and ammunitions containing depleted uranium at the UN General Assembly's First Committee. Israel, US, Netherlands and the Czech Republic also voted against the resolution.
	The current consensus of scientific and medical experts, including reports published by the Royal Society, is that the use of depleted uranium for military purposes has not had any significant impact on the health of veterans or civilian populations. The UK is also aware that the US National Academy of Sciences is currently carrying out an independent review of the type mentioned in the resolution.

Whales

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of foreign Governments on whaling since the International Whaling Commission 59 meeting; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with his foreign counterparts on this issue.
	The departmental lead on this subject is the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and DEFRA work closely together regarding whaling, in particular lobbying foreign Governments, emphasising the importance which the UK attaches to whale conservation.
	On 21 December 2007, the UK, along with 29 other countries and the EU, made a formal diplomatic representation to the Japanese Government in Tokyo urging it to stop its lethal whaling programme in the Antarctic.
	In January 2008, the FCO and DEFRA will launch a lobbying campaign spearheaded by the global distribution of the newly revised DEFRA brochure Protecting whalesa global responsibility including a foreword from my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

Whales

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to discuss whaling and the international moratorium on whaling with other Governments before the IWC60 meeting; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no current plans for discussions with his foreign counterparts on this issue.
	The departmental lead on this subject is the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and DEFRA work closely together regarding whaling, in particular lobbying foreign Governments, emphasising the importance which the UK attaches to whale conservation.
	Upcoming initiatives include a conference organised by our embassy in Reykjavik in March to highlight the advantages of whale watching. Our embassy in Copenhagen is arranging a similar event, also in March, in which a range of people will participate, including the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
	In January 2008, the FCO and DEFRA will launch a lobbying campaign spearheaded by the global distribution of the newly revised DEFRA brochure Protecting whalesa global responsibility including a foreword from my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. Further targeted lobbying will be carried out by FCO posts in the run up to IWC 60.

Whales

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his foreign counterparts on whale conservation; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no recent discussions with his foreign counterparts on this issue.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given to him today (UIN 177576).

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effect on public order of supermarkets selling alcohol at cost price.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 26 November 2007
	The Government published their National Alcohol Strategy 'Safe.Sensible.Social' in June 2007. This strategy sets out how the Government plan to achieve significant reductions in the harms and cost of alcohol misuse over the next 10 years. The Government have commissioned an independent review which will look at the relationship between alcohol price, promotion and harm. This review will look at in what circumstances, price, (including discounting, advertising and other forms of promotion) drives overall consumption of alcohol and problem drinking in particular. This review is expected to report in July 2008, and following public consultation, the Government will consider the need for regulatory change if necessary.

Cannabis

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government will seek to re-classify cannabis as a class B drug.

Vernon Coaker: We will carefully consider the findings of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs when it submits its advice in April 2008 and we will then make a decision about whether or not to bring a proposal to Parliament to reclassify the drug.

Community Policing

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on the establishment of neighbourhood policing teams in England and Wales.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 14 January  2008
	The Government are committed to ensuring every community has a neighbourhood policing team by April 2008 and forces are well on the way to achieving this. As at the end of December 2007, there were over 3,600 neighbourhood policing teams across England and Wales and 33 forces had already fully rolled out neighbourhood policing.

Crime Prevention: Voluntary Organisations

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support her Department gives to voluntary organisations that help reduce crime in communities.

Vernon Coaker: The Department is committed to working with voluntary sector organisations that play a crucial role in helping to shape, and where appropriate, deliver crime reduction services directly. In recognising this role at both regional and national level, the Home Office in 2007-08 provided over 3 million in financial support to several organisations, which demonstrates our continued support to our partnership with third sector organisations.
	In addition, the Connected FundGovernment funding for community groupshas so far made over 1.75 million available to 400 small voluntary groups working on gun crime and related issues across the country.
	The Home Office has also provided funding of 5.9 million in 2007-08 to Crime Concern for the Positive Futures Programme. Positive Futures is a national sports-based social inclusion programme which targets vulnerable young people in 30 areas worst affected by drug-related crime across the country.
	Other financial support from the Home Office also benefits voluntary organisations. In 2007-08 this included over 21 million to the Youth Justice Board to fund youth crime prevention: third sector organisations are often key local delivery partners. The Tackling Gangs Action programme is working with third sector community groups as well as statutory providers to tackle gang activity and gun and knife crime. In addition, a substantial amount of Home Office funding is pooled with other funding through local area agreements to be spent locally, and again voluntary organisations are often key delivery partners locally in tackling crime in communities: in the current 2007-08 Financial Year the Home Office contributed 65 million resource and 18 million capital through local area agreements.

Crime: Internet

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received from  (a) businesses and  (b) organisations representing business on the establishment of a Police Central E-Crime Unit.

Vernon Coaker: The Secretary of State has not received any formal representations from business or business organisations regarding the establishment of a Police Central E-Crime Unit.

Crime: Internet

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions Ministers and officials in her Department have had with HM Treasury on funding for a Police Central E-Crime Unit.

Vernon Coaker: Home Office Ministers and officials have not held any discussions with HM Treasury regarding funding for any police e-crime unit.

Crime: Internet

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to receive a business case for the establishment of a Police Central E-Crime Unit.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office has received an initial business case from ACPO, and has asked for a more developed case to be presented. It is essential that any new unit formed has clear objectives, and does not overlap with any other law enforcement activity.

Crime: Internet

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of legal sanctions in prosecuting the hiring of botnets to carry out phishing, directed denial of service and other cyber attacks on computer networks.

Vernon Coaker: The Government have introduced amendments to the Computer Misuse Act 1990 under section 5 (37) of the Police and Justice Act 2006 that creates a new offence of making, adapting or supplying articles for use in computer misuse offences. This offence covers the potential hiring out of botnets to carry such attacks. It is likely that this offence will come into force in April 2008. Guidance on the use of this new offence will be issued by the end of 2007.

Crime: Internet

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the number of computers in the UK infected with malicious software enabling them to be used by third parties in botnet attacks.

Vernon Coaker: The Government recognise the problems of malicious software, and works with industry to encourage them to implement security solutions both on their networks and for consumers. The Government also support Get Safe Online, which provides consumers and businesses with information on how to protect themselves.

Extradition: EC Countries

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether all European extradition warrants are handled by the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

Meg Hillier: holding answer 8 January 2008
	SOCA is the designated authority for the receipt and transmission of all European Arrest Warrants in the UK, with the exception of Scotland where this function is performed by the Crown Office of the Procurator Fiscal.

Human Trafficking

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of levels of people trafficking into the UK.

Vernon Coaker: The nature of the crime makes it difficult to make an accurate assessment of the extent of the problem although intelligence suggests there has been an increase in the trafficking problem over the last few years. In order to better understand the situation the Serious Organised Crime Agency along with the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre continue to work on improving intelligence collection as a priority. The intelligence collected as part of the current Operation Pentameter 2 will assist with improving our understanding of the nature and scale of trafficking throughout the UK.
	However, findings from a Home Office research paper estimates that at any one time in 2003 there were in the region of 4,000 female victims of trafficking for prostitution in the UK.

Police: Finance

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how much was spent by each police force defending actions brought against them by victims of crime in each year since 2001;
	(2)  how much was spent by each police force defending itself against vexatious litigation in each year since 2001;
	(3)  which  (a) barristers' chambers and  (b) solicitors' firms have undertaken work for each police force in England and Wales in each of the last two financial years; and what the reason for the work and the fees paid were in each case;
	(4)  which 10 barristers instructed by each police force in England and Wales received the highest sums for this work in the last two financial years; how much each received; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The information for all police forces in England and Wales is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Decisions on the distribution of resources are matters for the chief officer and the police authority.

Police: Migration

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effect of likely increases in population on the delivery of policing services in  (a) Government designated growth areas and  (b) Northamptonshire.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 14 November 2007
	Projections of population are one of the key components in the funding formula which determines the distribution of the main Government police grant between police authorities in England and Wales.
	Since 1997, increases in Government funding for the police have far outstripped increases in population. In the case of Northamptonshire, Government funding has increased by 55 per cent., 22 per cent. in real terms, while its population has increased by 10 per cent.

Theft: Computers and Bicycles

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what steps the Government have taken to reduce computer theft;
	(2)  what steps the Government have taken to assist the public in protecting their bicycles from thieves.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 14 January 2008
	There has been a strong drive from Government to reduce acquisitive crime since 1997, through targets, policy interventions and good practice development. Acquisitive crime has decreased significantly since the mid 1990s with a 34 per cent. reduction in personal acquisitive crime and a 55 per cent. reduction in household acquisitive crime between 1995 and 2006-07. This is equivalent to around 1 million fewer personal acquisitive crimes and almost 5 million fewer household acquisitive crimes.
	Where these particular offences are problems in local areas, the police and other partners such as local authorities, will include them in their strategic assessments and priorities. A good example of local activity is Coventry Community Safety Partnership's work with two universities to purchase 1,000 licences which enable laptops to be tracked if stolen.
	Regarding bicycle theft, in 2006 the Home Office published a Steer Clear of Cycle Theft leaflet providing crime prevention guidance for owners and law enforcement. Details can be found on the Home Office website (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime-victims/how-you-can-prevent-crime/). This advice includes security marking the cycle; keeping a copy of the details including colour and frame number (and taking a photograph); and, registering the details with a central database.

Theft: Metals

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to deal with people who steal expensive metal objects to sell to scrap yards.

Vernon Coaker: We are aware that thefts of valuable metals have been increasing over recent months and we are working closely with the industries affected and the police to develop a response to tackle these crimes.
	The Association of Chief Police Officers has set up a working group, chaired by the British Transport police and with Home Office representation, to assess the scale of such incidents. The aim of the group will be to establish an action plan which will address all aspects of the problem from national co-ordination to local responses to tackle metal thieves, including an examination of the current effectiveness of legislation relating to scrap metal recycling.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Support Agency

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to ensure that hon. Members' constituency cases are not referred to regional Child Support Agency offices without hon. Members' consent; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Where parliamentary questions or correspondence from Members of Parliament refers to child support operational matters, the Minister will ask the Child Support Agency to respond on their behalf as the administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You have asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to ensure that hon. Members' constituency cases are not referred to regional Child Support Agency offices without hon. Member's consent; and if he will make a statement.
	Where Parliamentary Questions or correspondence from Members of Parliament refers to Child Support operational matters, the Minister will ask the Child Support Agency to respond on his behalf.
	I reply personally to all Parliamentary Questions, including those relating to constituency cases. The Agency's Head of Client Relations, Florence Lea, will reply to all other correspondence from hon. Members to the Minister relating to constituency cases.
	In cases where an hon. Member writes directly to me as Chief Executive, the Agency's policy is that all such correspondence is dealt with by the Agency's Head of Client Relations, unless the hon. Member is content to receive a response direct from the regional centre dealing with their constituent's case.
	I hope you find the answer helpful.

Council Tax Benefit

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the take-up rate of council tax benefit was in the last period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Estimates of the take-up rate of council tax benefit are available in the DWP publication series entitled Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2005-06. Copies of the latest publication, plus past reports, can be found in the Library.

Credit: Low Incomes

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps the Government is taking to encourage initiatives from mainstream lenders to provide affordable credit to those on benefits and others at risk of financial exclusion.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	The Financial Inclusion Task-force has defined the role for banks in respect of affordable credit as supporting the growth of third sector lenders. The Government's recent action plan for financial inclusion announced a commitment by the banksbuilding on successful work in partnership with Government to increase take-up of basic bank accounts, and their support for other financial inclusion initiativesto support third sector affordable credit. This will include action to develop new provision in 25 high priority areas identified by the Financial Inclusion Task-force; the Government will work with the banks to identify areas most suitable for action.

Fuel Poverty

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans his Department has to reduce fuel poverty in Scotland; and what account he has taken of the Scottish House Condition Survey in developing such plans.

Mike O'Brien: The Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have the lead responsibility for the reduction of fuel poverty, although DWP works very closely with them to ensure that as many households as possible receive help. This is a Government priority and we are taking action throughout the UK to maximise benefit take-up and improve joined up working with the energy suppliers and across Government.
	We are currently undertaking a fuel poverty partnership pilot with the energy industry. This targets 250,000 pensioners in receipt of pension credit throughout England, Scotland and Wales, which aims to increase the take-up of energy efficiency measures and Warm Front grants. In Scotland, 16,500 recipients of pension credit will be contacted. This is just one of a range of activities designed to tackle fuel poverty as part of the cross government 'Keep Warm Keep Well' initiative.
	With reference to the Scottish House Condition Survey, the Fifth Annual Progress Report of the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy, published in December 2007 by DBERR and supported by DWP, draws on the data from that report.

Health and Safety Executive: Finance

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of future funding plans for the Health and Safety Executive on its ability to perform its role.

Anne McGuire: The Department is currently discussing funding for the 2007 spending review period with the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive. As part of this process, Ministers have asked HSC/E to maintain front-line inspector numbers for the next spending period, at least at the March 2008 level. HSC/E has been asked to prepare a business plan for my approval which sets out how they will perform their role. HSC/E's final spending settlement will be announced in the new year.

Jobcentre Plus: Computer Software

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason the personal benefit advice software provided by Jobcentre Plus is compatible with MS Windows platforms only.

Mike O'Brien: The personal benefit advice software essentially mirrors that of the Department of Work and Pensions' own networked better off calculator which is available to staff, primarily within Jobcentre Plus.
	The better off calculator has been developed for use on the Department's standard operating platform which, along with the personal benefit advice software, is MS Windows.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether claimants may receive jobseeker's allowance for more than 18 months as a result of single claim; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Yes. Since May 1997, the number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance for 18 months and over has fallen from 292,700 to 29,900 in November 2007.

Pensions: Financial Assistance Scheme

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 17 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 100-02WS, on Financial Assistance Scheme, whether the level of compensation in the amended Financial Assistance Scheme will be identical to that offered by the Pension Protection Fund.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 7 January 2008
	The assistance provided by the financial assistance scheme will be broadly comparable in value to that provided by the Pension Protection Fund, though not identical. Because FAS pension schemes started winding up under the regulatory framework and individual pension scheme rules that predate the PPF, and as many FAS schemes will already have bought annuities for members as part of the winding up process, there will inevitably be differences in the structure of assistance provided. In practice, we believe that for the majority of beneficiaries these differences will not be substantial.

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was unclaimed in means-tested benefits in each of the last five years.

James Plaskitt: Estimates of unclaimed means-tested benefits are available in the DWP publication series entitled Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-up. Copies of the latest publication, plus past reports, can be found in the Library.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Housing: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if the Minister for Housing will visit York to discuss the city's housing needs.

Yvette Cooper: Yes.

Councillors: Diversity

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress has been made in increasing the number of councillors who are women or from ethnic minorities.

Parmjit Dhanda: We set up the Councillors Commission to examine how a wider range of people, especially from under-represented groups like women and ethnic minorities, can be encouraged to become councillors. The Commission has published its findings in December and we will respond to their recommendations this spring.

Young People: Local Authority Decision Making

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will improve opportunities for the involvement of young people in decision-making by local authorities.

Hazel Blears: My Department is deeply committed to increasing opportunities for all people, including young people to be involved in decision-making by local authorities. Our ambitions to widen and deepen these opportunities are set out in our Community Empowerment Action Plan published in October 2007, which is jointly owned by the Local Government Association.

Home Information Packs

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what provisions the Government have put in place for the regular review of the effect of home information packs on the housing market.

Yvette Cooper: An independent report by Europe Economics on the impact of home information packs on the market was published by my Department on 22 November. The Government continue to monitor the impact of home information packs.

Community Land Trusts

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what additional help she plans to make available to encourage the setting up of community land trusts.

Yvette Cooper: We are supporting 14 pilots for community land trusts through the Housing Corporation by:
	giving local communities access to land for affordable house building;
	inviting trusts to bid for funding through the National Affordable Housing Programme; and
	providing support through the Innovation and Good Practice Programme.

Council Housing

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps she plans to take to improve the quality of council housing.

Yvette Cooper: In 2001 we introduced the decent homes standard, which for the first time set minimum standard, for all council housing in England, we have already reduced the number of non-decent social sector homes by over one million.
	By 2010 over 40 billion will have been invested in improvements to social housing and work will have been completed to over 3.6 million social-sector homes, with improvements for 8 million people in total, including 2.5 million children.

Energy-Efficient Homes

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions she has had with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on steps to improve domestic energy efficiency.

Iain Wright: Communities and Local Government and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has a wide range of mutually reinforcing policies and programmes in place aimed at improving domestic energy efficiency. Discussions are held at ministerial and official level on a regular basis. Both Departments will be jointly launching a green homes strategy which will include what Government is doing to reduce emissions from the domestic sector.

Local Government Funding

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make a statement on the local government finance settlement for 2008-09.

John Healey: The provisional local government finance settlement was announced on 6 December 2007. The ensuing consultation on Government's proposals has now closed, and the House will have the opportunity to debate the Government's proposals in due course.

Violent Extremism

Khalid Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress has been made through the Pathfinder projects in preventing violent extremism.

Hazel Blears: Over 200 projects are currently being delivered through the preventing violent extremism Pathfinder fund, which is building resilience to violent extremism in around 70 priority local authorities.

Firefighters

Nick Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will review the regulations governing ill-health retirement of firefighters.

Parmjit Dhanda: Representations from stakeholders about the terms of the current regulations governing the ill-health retirement of firefighters are being carefully considered. A statement will be made once our assessment of the representations is completed.
	It is not the intention of the current regulations, nor the explanatory guidance produced by Communities and Local Government, either in 2004 or 2006, to adversely affect firefighters' entitlement to an ill-health pension.
	Pension benefits for life are available to those who are permanently unable to perform the duties of a firefighter. Otherwise, the Department believes that another post within the fire and rescue authority, or alternative local authority employment, should be considered.

Ujima Housing Association

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make a statement on the financial position of Ujima Housing Association and consequent action taken by the Housing Corporation under the Housing Act 1996.

Yvette Cooper: On 20 December, Ujima issued a statutory notice to the Housing Corporation and sought a winding up order from court on the basis that it was unable to meet its debts when they fell due. Statutory notices were also issued by some secured creditors of Ujima on 20 December (in relation to defaults against credit agreements) and on 21 December (confirming the appointment of receivers). This latter action triggered a Moratorium under Part I of the Housing Act 1996, during which time the Housing Corporation may put proposals to secured creditors to safeguard the interests of tenants, taxpayers and creditors.
	Following the acceptance of the Housing Corporation's proposal by the secured creditors of Ujima Housing Association, the Housing Corporation on 14 January, appointed Grant Thornton as Manager under the 1996 Act to implement the transfer of Ujima's assets and liabilities to London and Quadrant Housing Group. We anticipate that the transfer should be complete this week.

Councillors' Commission

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criteria her Department used to determine the membership of the Councillors' Commission; and what  (a) remuneration and  (b) expenses members of the Commission are entitled to.

John Healey: The membership criteria for the Councillors' Commission were:
	substantial understanding of local government and the role of a councillor;
	experience of community activism;
	good understanding of the business/commercial perspective on councillors as employees;
	awareness of ethics in public life; and
	sound understanding of the Government's agenda for local government.
	The Chair in particular was required to command the confidence of the stakeholders, especially the local government sector. None of the Commissioners were remunerated for their work, but their expenses were covered in relation to any costs arising from attending Commission meetings, events and other related visits.

Departmental Pay

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 3 December 2007,  Official Report, column 874W, on departmental pay, how many of those earning over 100,000 were employed  (a) as special advisers and  (b) in a political role in each year since 2002.

Parmjit Dhanda: Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the number of special advisers in each pay band. For the most recent information I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 147-151WS.
	Information on the numbers and costs of special advisers prior to 2003 was provided at regular intervals and this information will be available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reason she is proposing to reduce the floor of spending.

John Healey: When setting the levels of the floors within the local government finance settlement we need to strike a balance between affordability, the floor level and the scaling factor applied to authorities above the floor.

Departmental Secondment

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff have been seconded to  (a) her Department and  (b) each of its executive agencies, in the last 12 months; from which outside body they were seconded; and what the length was of each secondment.

Parmjit Dhanda: Fifty-two secondments to Communities and Local Government began during the 12 months to 31 December 2007. The planned lengths of these secondments and the outside bodies from which the secondments were drawn are given in the following tables.
	
		
			  Length of secondment  Number of secondments 
			 Less than or equal to six months 7 
			 More than six months, less than or equal to one year 36 
			 More than one year, less than or equal to two years 6 
			 More than two years 3 
			 Total 52 
		
	
	
		
			  Outside body  Number of secondments 
			 Audit Commission 2 
			 Basildon District Council 1 
			 Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service 1 
			 British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA) 1 
			 Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority 1 
			 Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service 1 
			 Centrepoint 1 
			 Chief Fire Officers' Association 1 
			 Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service 1 
			 Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service 1 
			 East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service 1 
			 Essex County Council 1 
			 Essex County Fire and Rescue Service 1 
			 Fire Control West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service 1 
			 Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service 2 
			 Groundwork UK 1 
			 Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service 4 
			 Hereford and Worcester Fire Rescue Service 1 
			 Homeless Link 1 
			 Humberside Fire and Rescue Service 1 
			 Improvement and Development Agency 1 
			 London Borough of Lambeth 1 
			 London Civic Forum 1 
			 London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority 1 
			 MAple Access 1 
			 Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service 1 
			 Mid-Sussex District Council 1 
			 Norfolk County Council 1 
			 Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service 1 
			 Northamptonshire County Council 1 
			 Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service 1 
			 Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service 1 
			 Nottinghamshire Probation Area 1 
			 Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service 1 
			 Revolving Doors Agency 1 
			 South Wales Fire and Rescue Service 1 
			 Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service 1 
			 Stoke on Trent City Council 1 
			 Surrey Fire and Rescue Service 1 
			 The Housing Corporation 2 
			 Town and Country Planning Association 1 
			 West Berkshire 1 
			 West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service 1 
			 West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service 1 
			 Wiltshire and Swindon Fire Authority 1 
			 Record not available at this time 1 
			 Total 52 
		
	
	There were no secondments to the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in the last 12 months. There was one secondment to the Planning Inspectorate from North Somerset council which is planned to last for nine months. There were 12 secondments to the Fire Service college beginning in 2007. These were drawn from local fire and rescue services listed as follows. Each of these secondments is intended to last for three years.
	Outside bodies from which staff were seconded to the Fire Service college:
	Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service
	Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service
	West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
	Cleveland Fire and Rescue Service
	Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service
	Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service
	Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service
	Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service
	Fife Fire and Rescue Service
	Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service
	Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service
	Central Scotland Fire and Rescue Service

Digital Technology

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to promote digital inclusion.

John Healey: The Department's work on digital inclusion is aimed at ensuring that all local authorities and local strategic partnerships have the capacity and capability to take advantage of new technologies in supporting communities and place shaping, and delivering on the Local Government White Paper.
	This work includes continuing support to the winner of 2007's digital challenge competition, Sunderland city council, and the nine other finalists in their efforts to jointly develop good practice on digital inclusion initiatives and to promote digital inclusion as an aid to the successful delivery of local area agreements; a new digital inclusion theme for the beacon scheme in 2008; and funding the national digital inclusion team which runs a programme to explore and exploit the application of digital technologies to benefit socially excluded people across England.

Empty Property: Farms

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of disused farm buildings in England.

Iain Wright: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

English Language

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available.

Parmjit Dhanda: My Department has not incurred any expenditure on English language classes for staff.

Fire Services: Costs

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the costs of support services as a percentage of total costs were for each fire authority in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Parmjit Dhanda: It is not possible to derive meaningful estimates of the cost of support services from the information collected from fire authorities, given the significant differences between years and between authorities in how support services costs are classified in their accounts.

Fire Services: Finance

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what factors were taken into account in determining the 2008-09 North Yorkshire fire and rescue provisional budgetary settlement.

Parmjit Dhanda: holding answer 14 January 2008
	The distribution of formula grant takes into account the relative needs and potential to raise income locally (resources) of an authority, relative to all other authorities providing the same service. It also contains a central allocation and a floor damping mechanism.
	For North Yorkshire fire and rescue the needs component is measured through the Fire and Rescue Relative Needs Formula (RNF) and the Capital Finance RNF. The Fire and Rescue RNF takes into account the resident population, coastline, deprivation, high risk sites, property and societal risk and community fire safety. The capital finance RNF takes into account assumed outstanding debt and supported capital expenditure (revenue).
	The resources element uses a measure of the council tax base (number of Band D equivalent properties).
	From the proposals for the 2008-09 settlement announced on the 6 December, North Yorkshire will also benefit by 1.71 million from the floor damping mechanism. This will ensure that they receive a 1 per cent. increase in grant on a like for like basis.

Government Offices for the Regions: Consultants

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Government Offices of the Regions spent on  (a) running costs and  (b) programme expenditure on consultants in (i) 2004-05, (ii) 2005-06 and (iii) 2006-07.

Parmjit Dhanda: holding answer 14 January 2008
	The Government Offices for the Regions spent the following running cost amounts on consultancy:
	
		
			   
			 2004-05 4,133,464 
			 2005-06 3,505,194 
			 2006-07 2,427,162 
		
	
	The Government Offices receive financial delegations to incur programme expenditure on behalf of the sponsor Departments, however this is recorded against the accounts of the Departments and no central records are retained within the GOs of programme expenditure.

Housing Data Domain Group

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 16 October 2007,  Official Report, column 1035W, on the Housing Data Domain Group, whether her Department compiles neighbourhood or local statistics on family breakdown.

Iain Wright: Communities and Local Government does not compile neighbourhood or local statistics on family breakdown.

Housing: Construction

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the provisions of the Housing Green Paper relating to house building targets are intended to be applied by planning authorities in determining planning applications currently under consideration or taken into account for planning applications currently subject to appeal before legislation is enacted.

Iain Wright: Local planning authorities must determine planning applications in accordance with the statutory development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
	Government national statements of planning policy, such as planning policy for housing policies set out in Planning Policy Statement 3, and other policy, such as the house building targets set out in the Housing Green Paper 'Homes for the future: more affordable, more sustainable', are capable of being material considerations to be taken into account by local planning authorities, the Planning Inspectorate Agency or other relevant decision taker, in determining planning applications.
	It is for the relevant decision taker to determine the weight to be given to any material consideration depending on the circumstances of any individual case.

Housing: Construction

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) houses and bungalows and  (b) flats and maisonettes she expects to be built as part of her Department's target of 3,000,000 new homes by 2020; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The Government target is in terms of net additional dwellings and is not divided between flats and houses. It is for regional and local planning authorities to plan for an appropriate mix of housing,

Housing: Low Incomes

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimates she has made of  (a) the number of affordable houses that will be built by (i) 2010 and (ii) 2020 and  (b) the proportion of those that will be accessible.

Iain Wright: We announced in the Housing Green Paper an increase of new affordable housing to at least 70,000 per annum by 2010-11. Of these 45,000 homes will be for social rent and 25,000 for low cost home ownership. We have a goal to go further in subsequent years to 50,000 new homes for social rent in the next spending review period.
	The number of social rented homes to be provided from 2011-12 will be the subject of further spending reviews.
	The Housing Corporation is committed to increasing the number of homes built to Lifetime Homes Standards (LHS) in their 2008 to 2011 Affordable Housing programme and are actively seeking to encourage bids to include LHS in the current bidding round. From 2011, public sector funded homes will be built to LHS.

Housing: Planning

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to amend planning regulations on the conversion of family homes into bed sits.

Iain Wright: Under existing planning regulations, the conversion of a dwelling house into bed sits may require planning permission, depending on the characteristics of the proposed domestic arrangements and whether these are deemed to result in a material change of use. The Government recognise that there may be instances where the use of dwelling houses in group occupation may have adverse impacts upon the character and amenity of existing neighbourhoods. We intend to conduct further research into the extent of this problem and possible ways of addressing it. There may be a case for amending the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 to strengthen the ability of local planning authorities to control the proliferation of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). We propose to consult on possible amendments to the Use Classes Order in relation to HMOs later in the year.

Housing: Waiting Lists

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households were on waiting lists for housing in  (a) Cleethorpes constituency and  (b) Great Grimsby constituency in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: Information is collected at the local authority level. Cleethorpes constituency and Great Grimsby constituency falls within North East Lincolnshire council. The number of households on the waiting list for social housing in North East Lincolnshire council in each year since 1997, as at 1 April each year, is published on the Communities and Local Government website in Table 600. The figures for 2007 will be available by February 2008. The link for this table is as follows:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/144458
	Specifically, the waiting list for social housing in North East Lincolnshire council in each year since 1997 is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Households on the waiting list (excludes households looking for transfers)North East Lincolnshire UA 
			   Number 
			 1997 5,545 
			 1998 4,279 
			 1999 4,480 
			 2000 3,130 
			 2001 2,851 
			 2002 3,155 
			 2003 3,735 
			 2004 3,067 
			 2005 3,948 
			 2006 4,181 
			  Note:  As reported by local authorities.   Source:  Communities and Local Government Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix return (HSSA). 
		
	
	Local authorities in England report the numbers of households on their housing waiting list as at 1 April in their annual Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix returns. Not everyone on the waiting list is necessarily in urgent housing need. The waiting list includes those who consider social housing as their preferred or one of a number of housing options, and those who decide to get onto the waiting list ladder before they need or want to move houseparticularly where the priority system is heavily based on waiting time. The size of the waiting list is not an indicator of absolute need, it is only useful as a broad indicator of housing demand in an area.

Local Authorities: Planning Permission

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in what circumstances an intention by a local planning authority to issue a temporary planning permission is called in by her Department; how many such call-ins have occurred since 1 January 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The Government's policy on calling-in planning applications, including those involving temporary planning permission, was set out by my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Central (Mr. Caborn) in reply to the former hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Bill Michie) on 16 June 1999,  Official Report, column 138. Since 1 January 2005, there has been one planning application seeking temporary planning permission called in for determination by the Secretary of State.

Local Government Finance

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost of each bid for unitary status was in 2007, broken down by main budget heading.

John Healey: We do not hold information on the cost of preparing unitary proposals. The invitation to councils issued on 26 October made clear that it was wholly at the discretion of a council as to whether or not it responded to the invitation to make a proposal for future unitary local government structures in their area. It was for the authorities who submitted proposals to judge the level of resource they would apply to preparing proposals.

Local Government: Housing

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities managing their own housing stock are in  (a) positive and  (b) negative subsidy.

Iain Wright: Lists of authorities managing their own housing stock which were in positive and negative housing revenue account subsidy in 2005-06 (the last year for which we had audited data) are as follows.
	Authorities which have retained their stock and are part of the subsidy system, but who had delegated the management of their housing stock to an arm's length management organisation at that time have been omitted from the lists.
	 Local authorities managing their own housing stock 2005-06
	 Negative Subsidy
	Adur
	Alnwick
	Arun
	Ashford
	Aylesbury
	Babergh
	Barking
	Berwick
	Blaby
	Bolsover
	Bournemouth
	Bracknell
	Braintree
	Brentwood
	Bridgnorth
	Broxbourne
	Broxtowe
	Cambridge
	Cannock
	Chase
	Canterbury
	Caradon
	Castle
	Morpeth
	Castle Point
	Chesterfield
	Chester-le-Street
	Chorley
	City of York
	Corby
	Crawley
	Croydon
	Dacorum
	Darlington
	Dartford
	Daventry
	Doncaster
	Dover
	Dudley
	Durham
	East Devon
	East Riding
	Ellesmere Port
	Epping Forest
	Exeter
	Fareham
	Fenland
	Gedling
	Gosport
	Gravesham
	Great Yarmouth
	Guildford
	Halton
	Harborough
	Harlow
	Harrogate
	Harrow
	Hinckley
	Ipswich
	Kettering
	Kings Lynn
	Kingston upon Thames
	Lancaster
	Lewes
	Luton
	Macclesfield
	Medway Towns
	Melton
	Merton
	Mid Devon
	Mid Suffolk
	Milton Keynes
	Mole Valley
	New Forest
	Newark
	North Cornwall
	North Kesteven
	North Lincoln
	North Norfolk
	North Shropshire
	North Somerset
	North Warwick
	Northampton
	Norwich
	Nuneaton
	NW Leicester
	Oadby and Wigston
	Oswestry
	Oxford City
	Pendle
	Reading
	Redditch
	Ribble Valley
	Richmondshire
	Rochford
	Rossendale
	Rotherham
	Rugby
	Runnymede
	Rutland
	Salisbury
	Sedgefield
	Sefton
	Selby
	Shepway
	South Bedfordshire
	South Cambridge
	South Derby
	South Gloucestershire
	South Holland
	South Kesteven
	South Northants
	St. Albans
	Stafford
	Stoke-on-Trent
	Stroud
	Swindon
	Tamworth
	Tandridge
	Taunton Deane
	Teesdale
	Tendring
	Three Rivers
	Thurrock
	Torridge
	Uttlesford
	Wandsworth
	Warwick
	Watford
	Waveney
	Waverley
	Wealden
	Wear Valley
	Wellingborough
	Welwyn Hatfield
	West Lancashire
	Winchester
	Woking
	Wokingham
	Wycombe.
	 Positive Subsidy
	Birmingham
	Brighton and Hove
	Bristol
	Camden
	City of London
	Greenwich
	Hyndburn
	Kingston upon Hull
	Leicester
	Lincoln
	Liverpool
	Mansfield
	Middlesbrough
	North Tyneside
	Peterborough
	Plymouth
	Portsmouth
	Preston
	Redcar and Cleveland
	South Norfolk
	Southampton
	Southwark
	Thanet
	Wakefield
	Wansbeck
	Wirral.

Minimum Wage

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many London-based staff are employed by her Department on the national minimum wage.

Parmjit Dhanda: All of the staff employed by the Department are paid more than the national minimum wage.

Motor Vehicles: Arson

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many deliberate road vehicle fires occurred in  (a) 1996-97 and  (b) the most recent year for which figures are available in Wales and each Government office region in England.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested is in the following table, showing both the most recent financial year (2005-06) and the most recent calendar year (2006).
	
		
			  Deliberate road vehicle fires, England and Wales, England, and Government office regions, 1996-97, 2005-06 and 2006 
			   1996-97  2005-06  2006 
			 England and Wales 39,315 42,068 37,838 
			 England 36,454 38,935 34,893 
			 
			  Government office regions
			 East 2,544 3,123 2,805 
			 East Midlands 2,988 3,413 3,165 
			 London 3,056 3,179 2,879 
			 North East 3,131 2,707 2,515 
			 North West 7,489 7,704 6,826 
			 South East 4,119 4,879 4,344 
			 South West 2,362 3,172 2,917 
			 West Midlands 4,904 4,281 3,687 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 5,864 6,477 5,756 
			  Note:  Data for 2006 are provisional.

Non-Domestic Rates

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes she proposes to make to the  (a) precepting,  (b) collection and  (c) distribution of non-domestic business rates following the Lyons Report.

John Healey: The Lyons report did not recommend substantial changes and there are no plans to alter the current precepting, collection and distribution national non domestic rates regime. However, following the Lyons Report the White Paper Business Rate Supplements, published in October 2007, set out the Government's plan to introduce powers for local authorities to levy a supplement on business rates.

Non-Domestic Rates: Tax Allowances

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will publish her Department's review of business rate reliefs and exemptions.

John Healey: Business rates reliefs and exemptions were reviewed as part of the ongoing maintenance of running the business rates system by Communities and Local Government. No document was drawn together for publication.

Planning Inspectorate: Consultants

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Planning Inspectorate spent in  (a) running costs and  (b) programme expenditure on consultants in (i) 2004-05, (ii) 2005-06 and (iii) 2006-07.

Iain Wright: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Running costs 1,661,509.98 1,433,169.89 1,083,585.54 
			 Capital 1,163,441.94 1,839,694.08 406,863.20 
			 Total spend 2,824,951.92 3,272,863.97 1,490,448.74 
			  Note:  The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) is programme funded and therefore all PINS expenditure is classified as programme expenditure

Planning Permission: Playing Fields

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning applications have been approved affecting playing field sites of  (a) more than and  (b) less than 0.4 hectares in each year since 2001-02; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	Sport England collect information on all planning applications affecting playing fields of 0.4 hectares or more through their status as a statutory consultee. The following table shows the number of approved planning applications for all years since 2001 for which we have published data. These figures do not necessarily represent the 'threat' to playing fields, as many applications are from clubs and schools wishing to improve the quality of their playing fields and sporting provision. The second column therefore shows the percentage of these applications that represent a benefit or no change to sporting provision.
	
		
			   Number of approved planning applications  Percentage representing a benefit or no change to sporting provision 
			 2001-02 695 92 
			 2002-03 807 90 
			 2003-04 959 95 
			 2004-05 910 95 
		
	
	Information on planning applications affecting playing fields of 0.2 hectares or under is not collected centrally. However, the Department for Communities and Local Government has committed to consulting this year on reducing from 0.4 hectares to 0.2 hectares the threshold at which Sport England must be consulted when a planning application for development is submitted.

Planning Permission: Playing Fields

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when her Department plans to  (a) consult on the proposals in the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 on playing fields of 0.2 hectares and above and  (b) bring forward the changes recommended in the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 announced in her Department's press release Planning to Safeguard Open Spaces and Playing Fields of July 2002.

Iain Wright: We are committed to reducing the threshold for statutory consultation on the sale of playing fields from 0.4 ha to 0.2 ha and this topic will be included in the consultation paper on the review of statutory consultees to be published in due course. We hope to bring forward amendments to the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 following consultation.

Public Buildings: Fire Prevention

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will seek discussions with Cabinet colleagues on reviewing guidance on fire reduction  (a) regulation and  (b) technology in relation to publicly owned buildings; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: My Department has published technical risk assessment guidance for those responsible for fire safety under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This order applies to all non-domestic buildings and includes publicly owned buildings. As with all guidance documentation, my Department will keep this under review.

Regional Planning and Development: East Midlands

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which hon. and right hon. Members made formal submissions to the public consultation on the draft East Midlands Regional Plan.

Parmjit Dhanda: The following hon. and right hon. Members made formal representations on the Draft East Midlands Regional Plan:
	Right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe (Kenneth Clarke);
	Hon. Member for Bassetlaw (John Mann);
	Hon. Member for Leicester South (Sir Peter Soulsby);
	Hon. Member for South Derbyshire (Mark Todd).

Regional Planning and Development: Planning Inspectorate

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department issues to the Planning Inspectorate on the admission of oral representations from hon. Members during examinations in public of regional plans; and how many hon. Members were invited to make oral representations to the examination in public of the draft East Midlands Regional Plan.

Iain Wright: Guidance on examinations in public (EiP) of draft regional spatial strategies is set out in PPS11: regional spatial strategies.
	It is the responsibility of the panel to select matters that it considers ought to be examined and participants in an examination are invited by the panel, having regard to the nature of the representations they made during the consultation on the draft RSS and the contribution they can be expected to make to the specific matters to be discussed. In the case of the East Midlands no hon. Members were invited to attend.

Social Services: Asylum

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what additional funds were made available to local authority social services to provide care for unaccompanied asylum seeking children in each of the last three years, broken down by local authority; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 7 January 2008
	I have been asked to reply.
	The grant payments made by the Home Office to local authorities in respect of unaccompanied asylum seeking children over the past three years are set out in the tables placed in the House Library.

UK Location Strategy

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has for consultation on the UK Location Strategy.

Parmjit Dhanda: Place Matters: The Location Strategy for the United Kingdom was submitted to Ministers by the UK Geographic Information Panel in October 2007. It was formulated following wide consultation across the UK geographic information industry and related interests. The strategy provides a framework for the better management and stewardship of public sector information.
	Decisions will be made shortly on how best to take forward the recommendations contained within the strategy.

Unitary Councils

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for publication of the first draft unitary implementation orders.

John Healey: The first draft unitary implementation orders were laid on 17 December 2007.

Youth Services: Finance

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what schemes funded by her Department can be applied to by organisations that help young people in the community;
	(2)  what support her Department has given to voluntary organisations that work with young people in the community in each of the last five years.

John Healey: Communities and Local Government (CLG) is committed to supporting work to improve outcomes for young people. In October 2007 we published an Action Plan for Community Empowerment: Building on Success, with a key theme of empowering young people to shape their local services. Examples of current initiatives include the Young Advisors scheme which trains young people aged 15 to 21 to act as consultants to ensure the views of young people are considered in local authority decisions affecting them.
	The total departmental budget comprises support from specific programmes in addition to support through generic schemes such as the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and Supporting People. Many of these programmes support organisations that work with young people. The level of support through these programmes for the voluntary and community sector is not held centrally. We estimate that our specific funding programmes for the voluntary and community sector over the last five years have provided support totalling:
	
		
			   Estimated total ( million) 
			 2003-04 21.5 
			 2004-05 26.5 
			 2005-06 29.5 
			 2006-07 32.5 
			 2007-08 29.5 
		
	
	Information about any future funding schemes will be posted on our Department's website.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what files are held by the Cabinet Office on  (a) the Abortion (Amendment) Bill of Sessions (i) 1979-80, (ii) 1987-88 and (iii) 1989-90,  (b) the Unborn Children (Protection ) Bills of sessions (A) 1984-85, (B) 1985-86 and (C) 1987-88 and  (c) the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill of session 1989-90; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: As indicated in the Guide to Legislative Procedures which is published on the Cabinet Office website, it is normal practice for all private Members' Bills to be considered by the Cabinet Committee on legislation.
	Information on the proceedings of all Cabinet committees, including when meetings are held and what is discussed, is retained for the historical record but is not normally released until after 30 years.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether any of his Department's special advisers also work for organisations outside his Department.

Gillian Merron: Special advisers are appointed under terms and conditions set out in the Model Contract and Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Publicity

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  how many full-time equivalent staff are responsible for brand management and marketing in his Department and its agencies;
	(2)  how much his Department and its agencies spent on staff working on  (a) marketing and  (b) branding in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Gillian Merron: In the last 12-month period for which figures are available (1 November 2006 to 31 October 2007) the Cabinet Office spent 23,800 on staff costs for work on marketing along with branding. From 1 April 2007, the Cabinet Office outsourced all its central external marketing function (including managing its brand) to the Central Office of Information (COI). Some general communications staff across the Department have marketing and branding functions, along with other communications functions such as strategy and planning, dealing with the media, internal communications and e-media.

Government Departments: Data Protection

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the written statement of 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 98WS, on data handling procedures in Government and the Cabinet Secretary's interim progress report, how many Government Departments or agencies store data outside the UK; and how many people's details are stored in this way.

Gillian Merron: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. The Cabinet Office published an interim progress report on 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 98WS. A further report is expected in spring 2008.

Ministers: Grace and Favour Housing

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the answer of 17 October 2007,  Official Report, column 1135W, on Ministers: grace and favour housing, whether Lord Malloch-Brown moved into the same ministerial residence as previously occupied by the right hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull.

Gillian Merron: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Edward Miliband) on 27 November 2007,  Official Report, column 352W.

Planning Permission

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what planning applications the Cabinet Office has submitted in relation to requests for planning permission on its properties inside London in the last 12 months; in what buildings; and for what purposes.

Edward Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 17 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 1084-85W.

Youth Volunteering

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for South Ribble of 12 December 2007,  Official Report, column 562W, on youth volunteering, how many young people  (a) have undertaken voluntary work arranged by v since its establishment and  (b) are in a voluntary role arranged by v.

Phil Hope: Young people do not volunteer directly through v, they volunteer through local, regional and national organisations that v commissions to provide volunteering opportunities.
	v is currently collating up-to-date information on the number of young people who have volunteered through the projects that they fund. This information will be available in February 2008.

PRIME MINISTER

Departmental Publicity

Philip Hammond: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  how much his office spent on staff working on  (a) marketing and  (b) branding in the last 12 month period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many full-time equivalent staff are responsible for brand management and marketing in his office.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Gillian Merron) today.

HEALTH

Accident and Emergency Departments: Industrial Health and Safety

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many nurses were  (a) injured and  (b) killed while on duty in accident and emergency wards in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many ambulance paramedics were  (a) injured and  (b) killed while on duty in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: holding answer 14 January 2008
	The information is not available. It is being collected and is expected to be available in spring 2008. We will arrange to place a copy of this information in the Library in due course.

Alcoholic Drinks: Health Education

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to launch his Department's national communications campaign to raise awareness of alcohol, as described in paragraph 2.36 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy; and for how many years he anticipates the national communications campaign will run.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department of Health and Home Office will jointly launch a much expanded, multi-million pound public health and education campaign on alcohol from April 2008 to challenge public tolerance of drunkenness and drinking that causes harm to health.
	As outlined in the Government's strategy 'Safe, Sensible, Social', the national campaign will aim to raise the public's knowledge of units of alcohol and the Department's sensible drinking guidelines, promote advice around drinking and pregnancy, and target drinkers who harm their health and that of their families and friends. The current campaign targeting 18 to 24-year-old binge drinkers will continue. We expect the overall national campaign to run over a number of years.

Alcoholic Drinks: Health Education

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who he intends will develop the targeted information and advice for people who drink at harmful levels, as described in paragraph 2.36 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy.

Dawn Primarolo: Targeted information and advice for people who drink at harmful levels will be established based on research commissioned by the Central Office of Information and the Department.

Barnet Primary Care Trust: Drugs

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on drugs and pharmaceuticals by Barnet Primary Care Trust in 2006-07; what estimated expenditure on such products is for  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Barnet primary care trust (PCT) spent a total of 46,984,000 on drugs and prescribing in 2006-07. Estimated expenditure for 2007-08 and 2008-09 is not collected centrally.
	 Source: 2006-07 audited summarisation schedules and financial returns for the PCT.

Barnet Primary Care Trust: Finance

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage change in revenue allocation Barnet primary care trust will receive for 2008-09; and what progress has been made in returning top sliced and other withheld funds relating to previous years to Barnet primary care trust.

Ben Bradshaw: In 2008-09, all primary care trusts (PCTs) will receive an above-inflation cash increase of 5.5 per cent. Barnet PCT will receive a 2008-09 revenue allocation of 485.8 million, a cash increase of 25.2 million from 2007-08.
	In 2006-07 Barnet PCT had 12.8 million funds topsliced. 2.9 million of this topslice was returned at the end of 2006-07 and a further 7.8 million has been returned in the current financial year.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date his Department initiated its review of customer experience information, as described in paragraph 5.73 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy; what the cost to the public purse has been of his Department's review of customer experience information; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The review of customer experience information started in October 2007. This review fulfils a commitment made in the 'Our Health, Our Care, Our Say' White Paper:
	To facilitate the better use of surveys, the Department of Health will review the (national patient) survey programme (paragraph 7.21).
	The cost of this work is 249,000 and it is due to conclude in February 2008.
	The project scope is to look at how we might collect the most appropriate feedback from patients and users and ensure it is being used at all the right levels, such as policy making, commissioning, provision, staff accreditation and reward.

Care Homes: Closures

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many care homes closed in England in each of the last five years, broken down by region.

Ivan Lewis: We have been informed by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that it is only able to provide data on the number of homes de-registered. De-registration includes not only homes permanently closed but also temporary closures, due, for example, to a change of ownership, an application to change the service a home provides or while refurbishment takes place. In instances such as these, a home will de-register and then re-register at a later date.
	The following table shows the number of care homes deregistered by CSCI in each year and by each region for the years 2002-03 to 2006-07.
	
		
			   Year 
			  CSCI region  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 East Midlands 147 273 167 163 155 
			 Eastern 136 210 156 169 151 
			 London 135 238 136 172 154 
			 North East 76 140 76 130 111 
			 North West 430 400 277 224 213 
			 South East 579 520 342 367 321 
			 South West 526 547 285 293 232 
			 West Midlands 188 281 200 220 183 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 226 332 172 183 161 
			 Total 2,443 2,941 1,811 1,921 1,681 
			  Source: CSCI registration and inspection database (data as at 10 December 2007)

Care Homes: Standards

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing homes receiving local authority-funded residents have been placed on a caution list in the last 12 months, broken down by local authority.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 10 January 2008
	The Department is not aware of the use of caution lists in respect of nursing homes. All care and nursing homes in England are regulated and inspected by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). The table shows data provided by CSCI on the numbers of nursing homes per local authority which are rated as 'poor' or 'undergoing enforcement' as at 9 January 2008.
	All services which CSCI rates in these categories become part of its regional enforcement strategy. For any such services, CSCI will undertake a management review and request a mandatory improvement plan. These services will also receive a greater number of inspectionsa minimum of two key inspections a yearas a result of their rating. As data are not collected on homes catering for local authority-funded residents, the numbers shown are in respect of all nursing homes in England.
	
		
			  Number of nursing homes with a CSCI quality rating of 'poor' or 'undergoing enforcement' as at 9 January 2008 
			  Local authority  Number of homes 
			 Barnsley 1 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 1 
			 Bedfordshire 7 
			 Birmingham 12 
			 Blackpool 1 
			 Bournemouth 2 
			 Bradford 1 
			 Brighton and Hove 2 
			 Bristol 1 
			 Bromley 2 
			 Buckinghamshire 3 
			 Bury 1 
			 Calderdale 4 
			 Cambridgeshire 4 
			 Cheshire 3 
			 Cornwall 5 
			 Croydon 4 
			 Cumbria 2 
			 Derbyshire 3 
			 Devon 3 
			 Doncaster 1 
			 Dorset 1 
			 Dudley 3 
			 Durham 1 
			 East Sussex 2 
			 Essex 3 
			 Gloucestershire 10 
			 Greenwich 2 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1 
			 Hampshire 3 
			 Harrow 1 
			 Havering 1 
			 Herefordshire 1 
			 Hertfordshire 4 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1 
			 Kent 3 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1 
			 Kirklees 2 
			 Lancashire 5 
			 Leeds 3 
			 Leicestershire 3 
			 Lewisham 2 
			 Lincolnshire 2 
			 Liverpool 5 
			 Luton 1 
			 Manchester 2 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 2 
			 Norfolk 3 
			 North Somerset 3 
			 North Tyneside 2 
			 North Yorkshire 3 
			 Northamptonshire 1 
			 Northumberland 1 
			 Nottingham 3 
			 Nottinghamshire 11 
			 Oldham 1 
			 Oxfordshire 2 
			 Peterborough 1 
			 Plymouth 1 
			 Poole 1 
			 Portsmouth 1 
			 Redbridge 1 
			 Rotherham 1 
			 Salford 2 
			 Sandwell 1 
			 Sefton 1 
			 Sheffield 2 
			 Shropshire 4 
			 Somerset 14 
			 South Gloucestershire 1 
			 Southwark 3 
			 Staffordshire 6 
			 Stockport 1 
			 Suffolk 3 
			 Sunderland 1 
			 Surrey 3 
			 Sutton 5 
			 Tameside 1 
			 Telford and Wrekin 1 
			 Torbay 2 
			 Trafford 2 
			 Wakefield 3 
			 Walsall 3 
			 Waltham Forest 1 
			 Wandsworth 2 
			 Warwickshire 5 
			 West Sussex 8 
			 Wiltshire 2 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 1 
			 Wolverhampton 1 
			 Worcestershire 5 
			 Total 248 
			  Source: CSCI registration and inspection database

Care UK: Newcastle

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the central NHS commissioners to agree to meet the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central to discuss the hours of operation of CARE UK's Newcastle central walk-in centre.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has received a request on 7 November 2007 from the hon. Member for Newcastle Upon Tyne, Central to meet to discuss the hours of operation of the Newcastle walk-in centre. I understand that the Department will be writing to the hon. Member shortly to arrange a meeting.

Chlamydia: Screening

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 235-6W, on Chlamydia: screening, when he plans to establish his Department's development priorities for sexual health payment by results; whether these development priorities will be published; what newly emerging recommendations have been made in relation to sexual health payment by results by interested parties, other than the Health Protection Agency; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department will publish its response to the 'Options for the Future of Payment by Results: 2008-09 to 2010-11' consultation in January 2008.
	When we publish the Department's response to the consultation we will be making available electronically all the replies to the consultation, so it will be possible to see what respondents have said on sexual health. We will also provide an update on the progress of payment development sites, which are piloting new classifications and currencies for services such as sexual health.

Deloitte and Touche

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on services from Deloitte and Touche in each of the last 12 months; and on which of his Department's  (a) programmes and  (b) areas of work Deloitte has provided consultancy services in that period.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is included in the following table:
	
		
			  Expenditure for Deloitte and Touche in the last 12 month period 
			  Period  Total expenditure () 
			 December 2006 2,153,145 
			 January 2007 1,530,177 
			 February 2007 1,768,592 
			 March 2007 1,536,192 
			 April 2007 1,827,561 
			 May 2007 1,988,210 
			 June 2007 1,828,684 
			 July 2007 1,825,577 
			 August 2007 2,356,355 
			 September 2007 1,750,315 
			 October 2007 1,863,407 
			 November 2007 1,228,848 
			 Total 21,657,063

Departmental Christmas

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is his Department's policy to use  (a) incandescent light bulbs and  (b) LED lights for festive decorations on departmental premises.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has a mix of incandescent and LED lighting for its Christmas tree decorations used in departmental premises. When the trees are removed the supplier retains the lights, and tests and reuses them.

Departmental Equality

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to paragraph 28, page 35 of his Department's resource accounts for 2006-07, 
	(1)  on what date the Commission for Racial Equality completed its report; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the report;
	(2)  for what reasons the Commission for Racial Equality was concerned about his Department's production of race equality impact assessments.

Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 11 December 2007,  Official Report, column 510W. The answer on 11 December, explained that the Commission for Racial Equality published its report on the Department on 27 September and reported on the outcome of the Commission's investigation. A copy of the Commission's report has been placed in the Library. The reasons for the Commission's concerns are set out in the report.

Departmental Internet

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what amendments have been made to Wikipedia entries from computers with departmental IP addresses in the last 12 months.

Ben Bradshaw: Using information available from the Wikipedia site, between 22 August 2005 and 3 August 2007, there have been close to 1,500 occasions when the Department's IP address has been associated with the creation or amendment of entries on the Wikipedia website.
	Information on which particular entries have been amended is not held by the Department and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Minimum Wage

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many London-based staff are employed by his Department on the National Minimum Wage.

Ben Bradshaw: All Departmental employees earn more than the national minimum wage.

Departmental Parliamentary Questions

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff work in his Department's parliamentary branch; and what proportion of their time is spent on dealing with  (a) parliamentary questions and  (b) correspondence from hon. Members and Peers.

Ben Bradshaw: There are 10 staff in the parliamentary branch, of whom six deal exclusively with parliamentary questions. The four other post holders deal with parliamentary questions as part of their duties, equating to approximately one post. Staff in the parliamentary branch do not deal with correspondence.

Departmental Public Participation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2007,  Official Report, column 822W, on departmental public participation, if he will place in the Library copies of the  (a) summary and  (b) full reports of findings for each of the three listed surveys.

Ben Bradshaw: Perceptions of 'Our NHS Our Future and Public Attitude to NHS' will be laid before Parliament in February 2008. The small-scale staff survey will not be made available as it covers a small piece of work relating to the internal management of the Department. However, we will make available our next annual staff survey which we expect to report on in the summer of 2008.

Departmental Public Participation

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to consult service users and their families on Valuing People Now.

Ivan Lewis: The consultation 'Valuing People now: from progress to transformationa consultation on the next three years of learning disability policy', is open to service users and their families to respond. It is also available in easy read format. The deadline for response is 28 March 2008 after which time we will be collating responses to inform future policy development.
	The valuing people support team within the Care Services Improvement Partnership is working with local groups including learning disability partnership boards to support locally led consultation events.
	Copies of the consultation papers are available in the Library.

Departmental Supply Estimates

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Winter Supplementary Estimates (HC 29), if he will break down his Department's  (a) main estimate and  (b) winter supplementary estimate provision by subhead in (i) near cash and (ii) non-cash terms.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department did not seek Parliament's approval to a Winter Supplementary Estimate. Near-cash and non-cash are essentially used as departmental expenditure limit (DEL) budgetary control concepts and are not specifically identified with voted resources in Estimates. However, we have been able to break down net total resources for each section in the Part II: Subhead detail table of our main estimates as follows:
	
		
			   Resource DEL 000) 
			  Main Estimates 2007-08  Near-cash  Non-cash 
			  RfR1 Securing health care for those who need it   
			 Strategic health authority and primary care trust unified budgets and central allocations(1) 80,904,795 3,537,004 
			 Pharmaceutical services 1,059,345 0 
			 Prescription charges -451,845 0 
			 General ophthalmic services 379,000 0 
			 Strategic health authorities and primary care trust grants to local authorities(1) 248,788 0 
			
			  RfR2: Securing social care and child protection for those who need it and at national level, protecting, promoting and improving the nation's health   
			 Central department 217,173 19,223 
			 National Health Service Purchasing and Supplies Authority 28,222 765 
			 Other services including medical, scientific and technical services, grants to voluntary bodies, research and development and information services 305,880 0 
			 Welfare food and European Economic Area and other countries medical costs 321,500 428,492 
			 Other personal social services 179,581 0 
			 Medicines and Healthcare Product Regulatory Agency interest on loans -1 0 
			 AIDS support grant(1) 16,500 0 
			 Services for people with a mental illness including service under the mental capacity act 147,525 0 
			 Carers' grant 185,000 0 
			 Preserved rights grant 275,248 0 
			 National training strategy 107,859 0 
			 Access and systems capacity grant 546,000 0 
			 Human resources development strategy 49,750 0 
			 Children and adolescents mental health grants 90,539 0 
			 Delayed discharge grant 100,000 0 
			 Assistive technology: older people 50,000 0 
			 Prevention service pilots: older people 40,000 0 
			 Individual budget pilots 6,000 0 
			 (1) The near-cash and non-cash elements for some subheads do not add up to the voted provision since the Estimate also includes provision for capital grants which are part of the capital DEL.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding was provided for drug treatment and rehabilitation in Wakefield district in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information has been set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Total Wakefield funding for drug treatment and drugs intervention programme (DIP delivery )( 3)  Money allocated for drug treatment residential rehabilitation( 4) 
			 2003-04(1) 3,098,859 40,000 
			 2004-05(1) 3,567,151 40,000 
			 2005-06(1) 4,128,396 50,000 
			 2006-07(2) 4,488,018 52,000 
			 2007-08(2) 4,645,343 84,400 
			 (1) Figures taken from the 2006-07 treatment plan.  (2) Figures taken from the 2007-08 treatment plan.  (3) Total funding for drug treatment and drug intervention programmes (DIP) delivery includes pooled treatment budget allocation, mainstream funding (in Wakefield 'mainstream' funding includes financial contributions from police, local authority, Primary Care Trust and probation) and young people budgets.  (4) These figures represent ring-fenced amount the Wakefield partnership identifies for drug treatment residential rehabilitation within the annual treatment plan. This ring fenced pot is accessed by the partnership on an individual needs basis. As a result, the money allocated for drug treatment residential rehabilitation may be amended through the year based on demand.   Source:  National Treatment Agency

East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust: Hospitals

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals there are in the  (a) East Kent hospitals NHS trust area and  (b) Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS trust area; how many bed spaces there are in each hospital in each area; and how many cases of clostridium difficile there were in each such hospital in (i) 2004, (ii) 2005 and (iii) 2006.

Ann Keen: holding answer 14 January 2008
	There are five hospitals in the East Kent hospitals NHS trust. These are Buckland hospital, Kent and Canterbury hospital, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother hospital, Royal Victoria hospital and William Harvey hospital.
	There are three main hospitals in the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS trust. These are Maidstone hospital, Pembury hospital and Kent and Sussex hospital. In addition to the listed sites the trust also provides services at Crowborough War Memorial hospital, Hawkhurst hospital and Uckfield hospital.
	The data for bed spaces are not held centrally.
	The data for Clostridium difficile are only held at trust level. The following table shows the data held for each trust for the over-65s only.
	
		
			   Number of C. difficile cases reported in patients aged 65 years and over 
			   2004  2005  2006 
			 East Kent hospitals NHS trust 638 705 528 
			 Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS trust 484 464 545

Food: Contamination

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what checks are made for illegal drug residues in seafood being imported from China; what monitoring takes place to prevent contaminated Chinese seafood being offered for sale in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: We are advised by the Food Standards Agency, which has responsibility for food safety matters, that the regulatory controls in respect of imports from non-European Union (EU) countries are comprehensive, and operate EU wide. Imported foods from non-EU countries are subject to checks at United Kingdom ports of entry by local authorities under EU food legislation.
	These official controls ensure that products of animal origin such as fishery products from approved countries outside the EU, including China, have come from approved establishments. Such products must enter the UK through designated border inspection posts under the control of veterinary inspectors, where they undergo documentary and identity checks, and prescribed proportions are subject to physical checks, which may include testing for contaminants.
	Since September 2001 EU legislation has prohibited the importation of aquaculture fishery products from China due to concerns regarding illegal residues of veterinary medicines. Since then, and as a result of EU inspections, the controls on aquaculture fishery products have been reduced and from August 2004 imports of certain aquaculture fishery products are permitted, if accompanied by an attestation from the competent Chinese authorities that the product has been tested and is free from illegal residues of chloramphenicol and nitrofurans.
	The Veterinary Medicines Directorate carries out surveillance of imported foodstuffs. Since August 2004, 43 samples of farmed fish and 25 samples of crustaceans from China have been tested for illegal residues. In 2006 a sample of fish contained non-compliant residues of nitrofuran metabolites. In 2007 a sample of fish contained non-compliant residues of crystal violetwhich is a dye not authorised for use as a veterinary medicine in the EU and therefore should not be present in imports.

Food: Genetically Modified Organisms

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Food Standards Agency has taken to ensure that genetically modified organisms which have not received EU approval can be detected in cargoes imported into the UK from non-EU countries.

Dawn Primarolo: At national level, the Food Standards Agency is responsible for overseeing the food law enforcement activities of local authorities, including those related to imported products. It supports local authorities by funding training, providing grants and making other resources available. In the case of genetically modified food, the European Commission through its Joint Research Centre (JRC) is also able to provide practical support for laboratories involved in analysing food and feed for unauthorized material. The Food Standards Agency is encouraging the Commission and the JRC to expand this work.

Food: Labelling

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from  (a) Sainsbury's  (b) Asda,  (c) Tesco,  (d) Waitrose and  (e) Marks and Spencer on food labelling in the past 12 months.

Dawn Primarolo: The Food Standards Agency has consulted publicly on a number of labelling issues including the European Commission Review of Food and Nutrition Labelling legislation and other issues such as voluntary front of pack nutrition labelling and the revision of voluntary guidance on clear labelling, country of origin labelling and marketing terms. The agency has received representation both as written submissions and in face to face meetings from the named supermarkets or their representative trade associations.

Funding of Primary Care Trusts

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the funding of primary care trusts where the number of general practitioners per capita is significantly at variance with the national median; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: On 10 October, following publication of the 'Our NHS Our Future' Next Stage Review Interim Report, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health, (Alan Johnson) announced a 250 million access fund to deliver at least 100 new general practitioners (GP) practices in the most deprived areas (i.e. those with fewest GPs and nurses, poorest health outcomes and lowest patient satisfaction) and 152 GP-led health centres, one in each primary care trust (PCT) area.
	On 23 November, the Secretary of State subsequently announced the final list of 38 PCTs where at least 100 new GP practices will be located.
	The Department is currently working with strategic health authorities and PCTs to develop performance management arrangements and to establish the distribution of funding and potential time scales for delivery based on local plans.
	In addition, the 2008-09 revenue allocations were announced on 13 December. These represent 74.2 billion investment in the national health service, nearly 4 billion more than 2007-08. All PCTs will receive an above-inflation cash increase of 5.5 per cent., a total cash increase of 3.8 billion.
	The weighted-capitation formula used to inform PCT revenue allocations is continually overseen by the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA). ACRA's current review of the formula will be used to inform revenue allocations post 2008-09.

General Practitioners: Leicester

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GPs are practising in Leicester.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  All general practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)( 1)  in selected area, as at 30 September 2006 
			  Numbers (headcount) 
			   Area  Number 
			 5PA Leicestershire County and Rutland primary care trust (PCT) 374 
			 5PC Leicester City PCT 154 
			 (1) General medical practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars) includes GP providers and GP others.  Source: The information Centre for health and social care General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

General Practitioners: Standards

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of general practitioners' premises were above minimum standards on the most recent date for which figures are available in  (a) England and  (b) each primary care trust area; and what percentage in each primary care trust area failed to meet minimum standards through not complying with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Ben Bradshaw: Details of the minimum standards for general practitioner (GP) practice premises are set out in Schedule 1 of The National Health Service (General Medical ServicesPremises Costs) (England) Directions 2004, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. Compliance with these standards is a matter for local primary care trusts (PCT) and each make their own arrangements for undertaking this assessment.
	The most recent relevant data collected centrally comprised a snapshot return as at 31 March 2005 which was provided by PCTs. It has not been collected centrally since then. A copy was placed in the Library on 12 May 2006. The data are now almost three years out of date and do not reflect the investment in primary care premises that has taken place in the intervening period.
	New premises that fully satisfy minimum standards are being provided under the NHS Local Finance Investment Trust (NHS LIFT) initiative. Some 1.3 billion in private sector capital has already been injected into GP premises and community facilities across the country with 45 NHS LIFT schemes established and another three in procurement. This has, to date, delivered 149 new buildings open to patients with another 61 under construction.
	The NHS ProCure21 initiative has also provided premises that fully satisfy minimum standards. Over 221 million has already been invested in 49 GP and community facilities across England. Of that amount, 28 projects with a value of 98 million have been completed and 21 projects with a value of 123 million are currently in the early stages of development.

Healthy Start Programme: Barnet

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women in  (a) Hendon and  (b) Barnet participated in the Healthy Start programme in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of women eligible for Healthy Start at any given point in time varies. However, we estimate that take up of the scheme in England is currently approximately 87 per cent. This is equivalent to around 342,000 beneficiary households.
	Information on take up at a local level is not yet available.

HIV Infection

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of HIV prevention work in London primary care trusts; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: This is a matter for the local national health service, who are responsible for the commissioning of HIV prevention services in London.

Hospitals: Admissions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) males and  (b) females in each age group admitted to each hospital in (i) Southend, (ii) Essex and (iii) England died as a consequence of (i) alcoholic liver disease and (ii) cirrhosis in each of the last 10 years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Hospitals: Cleaning Services

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether a deep cleaning plan has been submitted to the East of England strategic health authority in respect of  (a) Peterborough district hospital and  (b) Edith Cavell hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals and what percentage of wards at each hospital in Greater London have undergone a deep clean as a measure against hospital acquired infections since 24 September 2007.

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals have  (a) had at least one ward deep-cleaned and  (b) been fully deep-cleaned.

Ann Keen: holding answer 14 January 2008
	All trusts were required to submit and agree their deep clean plans with primary care trusts and providers in their area by 14 December 2007 and this process has been monitored and assessed by strategic health authorities (SHAs). An interim local progress report about the implementation of deep cleans will be published by SHAs shortly. All deep cleans will be complete by the end of March 2008.

Incontinence: Medical Equipment

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made with concluding the review of the provision of stoma and incontinence appliances; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The latest consultation closed on 28 December 2007 and officials are in the process of evaluating the responses. They will also be meeting with a number of interested parties to discuss the conclusion of this review.
	A summary of the responsesand an indication of next stepswill be published no later than 28 March 2008.

Maternity Units: Greater London

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultant-led maternity units at hospitals in each primary care trust in Greater London have closed since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is not held centrally.
	Any decisions on changes to improve services are locally led, with full consultation with local people. It is only right that decisions about services are matters for local national health service trusts to determine how to best provide services for the communities they serve.

Medical Records: Data Protection

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many patients have had confidential medical data lost in each of the last 12 months;
	(2)  how many incidents involving the loss of patients' confidential medical data there have been in transfer between medical institutions in each of the last 12 months.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 14 January 2008
	Each national health service body is responsible for compliance with data protection legislation and their boards are legally accountable. The Department provides clear guidance to help them do this. It does not routinely collect information about incidents of loss of patient data. Comprehensive information for the period concerned is not held centrally, and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department is committed to ensuring that good practice is followed and that lessons are shared in the interests of improving protection of patient data across the NHS.

Medical Records: Data Protection

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) guidance and  (b) standards his Department has in place for the transfer of confidential medical data between medical institutions.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 14 January 2008
	The Department has published clear rules and guidelines on the management of personal data by national health service bodies. These are in the form of three codes of practice on maintaining data confidentiality, security, and good records management, supported by numerous good-practice guidelines. An internal web-based resource, the NHS information governance toolkit, makes this guidance accessible to all parts of the NHS, and all major NHS organisations are required to provide an annual performance assessment against the standards derived from the three codes of practice.

Mental Health Services

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the level of demand for NHS services for dual-diagnosis patients who abuse substances and have a mental illness; what assessment he has made of whether that demand is being met; and what plans he has for future provision of services.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department has undertaken a substantial programme of work to ensure that the needs of this group are met. The implementation of this has been supported by substantial increases in funding across the NHS over the past 10 years and specific funding increases for substance misuse services through the introduction of the pooled drug treatment budget, which has tripled in size since it was introduced in 2001 (129 million to 398 million in 2007-08).
	Examples of work undertaken to support improvements in this area include:
	In the Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide: Dual Diagnosis Good Practice Guide (Department of Health, 2002) it was made clear that people who have both drugs misuse and mental health problems need high quality, patient focused and integrated care, which should be delivered within mental health services. It charged local implementation teams in partnership with drug action teams with implementing the policy requirements.
	The 2002 Good Practice guide alongside guidance published in 2006, Dual diagnosis in inpatient and day hospital settings represents a summary of current Government policy on this issue. The key message is the need for mainstreamingthe recognition that substance misuse is usual rather than exceptional among people with mental health problems, and that the relationship between the two is complex.
	The updated Drug Misuse and dependence - UK guidelines on clinical management (the 'clinical guidelines'), published in September 2007 identifies that patients in drug treatment services with common mental illness problems additional to their drug misuse are often treated in drug treatment services, although clarity on competencies and shared care models is important. For all those with mental health problems, it is important that competent practitioners make adequate assessment and appropriate treatment be organised.
	Proper assessment is the key to establishing a comprehensive care plan for dual diagnosis. Adequate risk assessment of mental health should be undertaken at initiation of treatment and at appropriate times during management. Specific psychological management in line with appropriate guidance, such as National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and other psychiatric and drug misuse guidelines can then be provided.

MRSA: Greater London

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of  (a) MRSA and  (b) clostridium difficile have (i) been reported and (ii) resulted in death, (A) in total, (B) of those under the age of one, (C) of those under the age of five and (D) of those aged over 65 years at each hospital in Greater London in each year since 2000.

Ann Keen: holding answer 14 January 2008
	 The requested data are not available and the best source is the mandatory surveillance system. Surveillance of methicillin-resistant  Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) blood stream infections (bacteraemia) started in April 2001 and surveillance for  Clostridium difficile infection began in January 2004. Data for individual trusts in the London region are shown in the following tables.
	Figures on deaths involving MRSA or  C. difficile in individual hospitals are not currently available
	The total of MRSA bacteraemia reported in each trust for all age groups in the London region:
	
		
			   MRSA bacteraemia reports 
			  Name of NHS trust  April 2001-March 2002  April 2002-March 2003  April 2003-March 2004  April 2004-March 2005  April 2005-March 2006  April 2006-March 2007 
			 Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals 92 77 116 98 69 71 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals 62 94 94 102 78 62 
			 Barts and the London 62 74 62 64 67 50 
			 Bromley Hospitals 37 32 18 16 25 27 
			 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital 36 32 38 47 28 23 
			 Ealing Hospital 40 38 36 26 39 22 
			 Epsom and St. Helier University Hospitals 84 72 88 58 45 62 
			 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children 7 13 4 7 6 5 
			 Guy's and St. Thomas' 124 155 165 102 80 72 
			 Hammersmith Hospitals 89 115 125 81 69 62 
			 Homerton University Hospital 14 19 15 5 20 17 
			 King's College Hospital 92 108 107 64 99 70 
			 Kingston Hospital 55 59 47 52 57 32 
			 Mayday Healthcare 39 48 56 40 48 43 
			 Moorfields Eye Hospital 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Newham University Hospital 25 33 24 17 18 25 
			 North Middlesex University Hospital 46 48 53 29 39 35 
			 North West London Hospitals 59 44 55 54 56 51 
			 Queen Elizabeth Hospital 19 35 32 41 23 22 
			 Queen Mary's Sidcup 30 32 28 41 23 18 
			 Royal Brompton and Harefield 9 9 5 7 4 4 
			 Royal Free Hampstead 122 101 98 69 93 75 
			 Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital 2 6 1 5 3 2 
			 St. George's Healthcare 115 75 93 63 62 85 
			 St. Mary's 64 72 59 48 67 44 
			 The Hillingdon Hospital 33 36 24 30 24 38 
			 The Lewisham Hospital 54 45 49 60 31 23 
			 The Royal Marsden 6 7 4 1 2 11 
			 The Whittington Hospital 27 30 29 24 35 32 
			 University College London Hospitals 95 114 86 63 68 56 
			 West Middlesex University Hospital 32 41 34 30 27 38 
			 Whipps Cross University Hospital 45 43 37 48 16 29 
			  Note: Data are provisional 
		
	
	The total number of  C. difficile reports received for patients aged 65 years and over in each trust in the London region:
	
		
			   Number of C.  difficile reports for patients  65 years 
			  Name of NHS trust  January to December 2004  January to December 2005  January to December 2006 
			 Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals 648 927 622 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals 514 692 723 
			 Baits and the London (1) (2)183 402 
			 Bromley Hospitals 169 275 319 
			 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital 117 97 116 
			 Ealing Hospital 218 210 119 
			 Epsom and St. Helier University Hospitals 366 551 404 
			 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children(3)
			 Guy's and St. Thomas' 140 141 153 
			 Hammersmith Hospitals 323 317 235 
			 Homerton University Hospital 50 153 195 
			 King's College Hospital 236 177 248 
			 Kingston Hospital 227 363 278 
			 Mayday Healthcare 125 161 319 
			 Moorfields Eye Hospital 0 0 0 
			 Newham University Hospital (1) (2)93 185 
			 North Middlesex University Hospital 81 185 196 
			 North West London Hospitals 438 361 314 
			 Queen Elizabeth Hospital 206 262 306 
			 Queen Mary's Sidcup 160 251 172 
			 Royal Brompton and Harefield 25 21 20 
			 Royal Free Hampstead 133 107 132 
			 Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital 5 1 3 
			 St. George's Healthcare 484 386 390 
			 St. Mary's 219 172 262 
			 The Hillingdon Hospital 219 140 196 
			 The Lewisham Hospital 301 321 132 
			 The Royal Marsden 29 30 26 
			 The Whittington Hospital 71 174 189 
			 University College London Hospitals 89 77 104 
			 West Middlesex University Hospital 201 212 204 
			 Whipps Cross University Hospital 271 318 403 
			 (1) Missing data for all four quarters (2) Missing data for one quarter (3) Children's trust  Note: Data are provisional

Obesity

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the locations are of the 13 specialist NHS obesity clinics located across England.

Dawn Primarolo: There are 12 obesity clinics, locations of which are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  National health service operated obesity clinics for children in England 
			  Clinic  Address 
			 The Royal London Hospital Nutrition and Dietetic Department, 59 Philpot Street, London E1 1BB 
			 Surrey Hampshire Borders NHS Trust Jarvis Centre, 60 Stoughton Road, Guildford, Surrey GU1 1LJ 
			 Royal Hospital for Sick Children St. Michael's Hill, Bristol BS2 8BJ 
			 Birmingham Heartlands Hospital Department of Paediatrics, Bordesley Green East, Birmingham B9 5SS 
			 Alder Hey Hospital Eaton Road Liverpool L12 2AP 
			 University of Leeds Belmont House, 3-5 Belmont Grove, Leeds LS2 9DE 
		
	
	
		
			  NHS operated obesity clinics for adults in England 
			  Centre  Address 
			 University Hospital Aintree University Clinical Department, Longmoor Lane, Liverpool L9 7AL 
			 Leeds General Infirmary Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3EX 
			 Birmingham Heartlands Hospital Department of Medicine, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Bordesley Green East, Birmingham B9 5SS 
			 Queens Medical Centre The Clinical Nutrition Unit, Nottingham NG2 7HU 
			 The Royal Hospitals NHS Trust Medical Unit, Whitechapel, London E1 1BB 
			 Luton and Dunstable Hospital Centre for Obesity Research, Lewsey Road, Luton LU4 ODZ

Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Clostridium

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of clostridium difficile were reported in the Peterborough and Stamford hospitals NHS foundation trust in each month in 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested. However, the following table shows the number of clostridium difficile reports for patients aged 2 to 64 years old and for those patients aged 65 and over at Peterborough and Stamford hospitals NHS foundation trust (which are the latest data available).
	
		
			  C. difficile reports for patients 
			   Number 
			  Aged 65 years  
			 January to March 2007 63 
			 April to June 2007 54 
			  Aged 2-64 years  
			 April to June 2007 2

Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Orthopaedics

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for elective orthopaedic surgery in the Peterborough and Stamford hospitals NHS foundation trust in each month in 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Information is not available in the format requested. However, the following table shows the average time waited by patients for in-patient treatment for trauma and orthopaedics for 2007 at Peterborough and Stamford hospital NHS foundation trust (these are the latest data available).
	
		
			  Month end as at 2007  Median waiting time (weeks) 
			 January 13.1 
			 February 14.6 
			 March 15 
			 April 14.9 
			 May 15 
			 June 14.3 
			 July 13.2 
			 August 12.4 
			 September 12.1 
			 October 11.8 
			 November 10.6 
			 December will be published on 1 February 2008 
			  Source: MMRPROVMonthly Monitoring Return

Pharmacy

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the total difference, in respect of pharmacies in England, between the acquisition price of generic medicines and the reimbursement provided by his Department  (a) in 2005-06 and  (b) in 2006-07; and what the estimated amount is for 2007-08;
	(2)  what the total profit margin of pharmacists was in 2006-07 in respect of the reimbursement of generic medicines;
	(3)  what profit margin is allowed under the reimbursement arrangements for pharmacies for generic medicines, in line with the Pharmacy Contract.

Dawn Primarolo: The community pharmacy contractual framework allows pharmacy contractors to retain 500 million difference between the acquisition price of all medicines and the reimbursement. It makes no distinction between generic and branded medicines. The framework also provides for surveys to assess the level of this retained margin. Surveys in 2005-06 showed a net excess of 411 million on generic medicines, and surveys in 2006-07 showed a net excess of 558 million on generic medicines. Surveys are in progress for 2007-08, but no results are yet available.

Physiotherapy

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information the Department holds on the number of physiotherapy graduates who have graduated in the last two years and who have not found employment as physiotherapists.

Ann Keen: The number of physiotherapy graduates from 2006 and 2007 registered in the newly qualified health care professionals pools as looking for their first post in the national health service has fallen from a peak of 771 on 10 September 2007 to its current figure of 498 on 10 January 2008.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the results of his review of prescription charges.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave on 18 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1406W.

Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Prime Minister's announcement of 8 January 2008, what form of test will be used to screen people for  (a) heart disease,  (b) kidney disease,  (c) stroke and  (d) diabetes; and what criteria will apply to whether people will be offered surgery in each case.

Ann Keen: holding answer 14 January 2008
	As the Prime Minister announced on the 7 January, the Department is currently developing proposals for a screening programme. Any such programme will use an assessment of risk based on a range of known predictive factors including age, gender, smoking status, body mass index, high blood pressure, and cholesterol and glucose, as appropriate. The subject of developmental work at the moment is to make an assessment of the most clinically and cost effective way of offering an integrated set of these tests and measurements. The purpose of the screening programme will be to identify people's levels of risk for cardiac and vascular disease so that they can be offered preventive measures. Should already established disease be uncovered in the process treatment will be offered as usual in accordance with clinical need and on the basis of current national clinical standards and guidelines.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Health Education

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what expenditure on sexual health campaigns has been in each year since 1979 in  (a) nominal and  (b) real terms.

Dawn Primarolo: Direct comparisons of annual expenditure on sexual health campaigns over the last 20 years are not possible because expenditure in the 1980s and early 1990s reflected the high cost of mainstream television and cinema advertising on AIDS awareness campaigns which targeted the whole population. The move in the mid-1990s to targeted HIV health promotion programmes for high-risk groups, in line with the evidence on HIV transmission, resulted in a reduction in expenditure.
	Expenditure on sexual health campaigns including HIV public education, contraception awareness, prevention of sexually transmitted infections plus helplines(1) is set out in the following table. Information is not available before 1985-86.
	
		
			million nominal   million real terms in 2006-07 prices 
			 1985-86 0.52 1.09 
			 1986-87 7.60 15.44 
			 1987-88(1) 11.21 21.57 
			 1988-89 10.00 17.99 
			 1989-90 12.00 20.14 
			 1990-91 10.00 15.56 
			 1991-92 11.00 16.13 
			 1992-93 11.23 15.95 
			 1993-94 9.41 13.03 
			 1994-95 9.87 13.46 
			 1995-96 8.06 10.67 
			 1996-97 5.25 6.72 
			 1997-98 4.70 5.85 
			 1998-99 4.80 5.83 
			 1999-2000 6.00 7.14 
			 2000-01 4.60 5.40 
			 2001-02 4.60 5.27 
			 2002-03 6.60 7.33 
			 2003-04 6.60 7.12 
			 2004-05 6.60 6.93 
			 2005-06 5.12 5.27 
			 2006-07 11.25 11.25 
			 2007-08(2) 10.25 10.53 
			 (1) Expenditure from 1987-88 to the early 1990s reflects the high cost of HIV television and cinema advertising for the whole population. Expenditure on mainstream HIV campaigns is not separately identified but it would have accounted for the majority. (3) Identified spend so far. 
		
	
	(1 )Contract for the Sexual Health Information Line (formerly the National AIDS Helpline) is delivered as part of a contract which also includes Drinkline and Frank.

Thrombosis: Medical Treatments

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2007,  Official Report, column 261W, on thrombosis: medical treatment, what plans he has for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to assess rivaroxaban for the prevention of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing major orthopaedic surgery of the lower limbs.

Dawn Primarolo: Rivaroxaban for the prevention of venous thromboembolism after major orthopaedic surgery is currently being considered for referral to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence for appraisal.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Christmas

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much his Department spent on  (a) Christmas cards and  (b) postage of Christmas cards in 2007.

David Lammy: Design: DIUS held a competition for further education college students to design an electronic Christmas card for the Department. The competition was won by Matthew Boulton College. This incurred no significant cost to the Department as colleges were individually invited to participate. The prizea trip to a design centre or space centrewas donated by our partners.
	Distribution: The DIUS Christmas Card was distributed electronically through existing email routes and therefore incurred no significant costs.

Education: Cleethorpes

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what percentage of 18 to 24-year-olds in Cleethorpes constituency were in full-time education in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: Annual average estimates of the proportion of people in full-time education by age are available at a local level from the annual population survey (APS) and its predecessors the local labour force survey (LLFS) and the labour force survey local area data base (LFS LADB). Estimates for Cleethorpes for 18-24 year-olds for 2006 and back to 2000 are shown in the following table. The data are not available for earlier years at constituency level. These small area estimates are based on very small samples and are therefore subject to high sampling variability. They should therefore be treated with caution and in particular changes from year to year should not be used in isolation from the figures for a run of years. Regional and national estimates have been shown for comparison. These are available back to 1997.
	
		
			  Percentage of 18-24 year-olds( 1)  in full-time education 
			   Cleethorpes  Yorkshire and the Humber  England 
			 1997-98(2) n/a 23 24 
			 1998-99(2) n/a 25 25 
			 1999-00(2) n/a 26 26 
			 2000-01(3) 16 24 26 
			 2001-02(3) 19 24 26 
			 2002-03(3) 24 28 26 
			 2003-04(3) 18 27 27 
			 2004(4) 17 28 27 
			 2005(4) 16 30 28 
			 2006(4) 21 24 27 
			 n/a = Not available.  (1) Based on age as at the time of the survey.  (2) LFS LADB estimates based on the average of the 12 months from March to the following February.  (3) LLFS estimates based on the average of the 12 months from March to the following February.  (4 )APS estimates are for the average of the calendar year from January to December.

Educational Institutions: Sports

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what his policy is on encouraging sport at establishments within the responsibilities of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills recognises the importance of sport and physical activity to us all, for our good health, positive leisure and for our economy.
	We are working closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Children, Schools and Families to maximise the Government's substantial investment in school sport and sport for young people.
	Further education colleges and higher education institutions are helping to build on the foundations of the Government's school sport strategy by sustaining participation and supporting talent development for young people beyond school, and by maximising the contribution of their facilities, staff and other resources to sport in schools and the wider community.
	We are increasing the number of sport and physical activities available to our young people through the introduction of almost 400 FE sports co-ordinators during 2008-09, linked to the existing national network of School Sport Partnerships. Young people will be encouraged to access an offer of three hours of sporting activity. At the same time, our vocational learning programmes linked to the 14-19 and skills strategies, including the young apprenticeship in sports coaching and the advanced apprenticeship in sporting excellence, aimed at high performing young athletes, will support the growing demands from across the sport and leisure sectors.
	We believe that sport can be an agent of regeneration. Through skills development, the sharing of facilities and sporting opportunities, and research and liaison with key partners, our further and higher education institutions are enhancing the education and the quality of life of their students and the wider communities they serve.
	In addition, many further and higher education institutions are widening access to their often excellent sports facilities so that more people can enjoy the health and social benefits that participation in sport brings. Where colleges are undertaking substantial new builds, Sport Englandin association with the Learning and Skills Councilare working with colleges to identify opportunities to expand and enhance original planned sports facilitieswith the aim of opening the facilities to the wider community.

Gemini Observatory: Finance

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what factors were taken into account by the Science and Technology Funding Council in making its decision to withdraw funding from the Gemini Observatory consortium;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the decision by the Science and Technology Funding Council to withdraw funding from the Gemini Observatory consortium; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) has recently reviewed its participation in the Gemini Observatory in the light of its scientific priorities and overall budget. The Council has indicated that it is planning to withdraw from the Observatory project, but before doing so, it will discuss the implications with its consortium partners.

Higher Education: Cumbria

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what percentage of young people who left school at the age of 18 years in  (a) Cumbria and  (b) Copeland entered (i) higher education and (ii) further education in 2007.

Bill Rammell: The information requested is as follows:
	 (i) Higher education:
	The main measure for tracking progress on increasing participation in higher education is currently the higher education initial participation rate (HEIPR). This is the sum of the HE initial participation rates for individual ages between 17 and 30 inclusive. It covers English-domiciled first time entrants to HE courses, which are expected to last for at least six months, at UK higher education institutions and English, Scottish and Welsh further education colleges, and who remain on their course for at least six months. The earliest figure is 39.3 per cent. for 1999-2000 and the latest available figure is 42.8 per cent. for 2005-06.
	Equivalent figures for 18-year-olds only are 19.3 per cent. for 1999-2000 and 21.3 per cent. for 2005-06.
	Figures for 2006-07 will become available in 2008. The HEIPR is not disaggregated below national level
	HEFCE's 'Young participation in Higher Education' publication includes the proportion of young people who enter higher education at age 18 or 19 by parliamentary constituency, although this only covers the years up to 2000. Participation rates based on this work are given on the supporting POLAR website (www.hefce.ac.uk/polar).
	For England: these indicate that, for the cohort reaching 18 in 1997, the proportion of young people in England who entered higher education at age 18 or 19 was 29 per cent. For the cohort reaching 18 in 2000, the proportion of young people in England who entered higher education at age 18 or 19 was 30 per cent.
	For Cumbria: these indicate that, for the cohort reaching 18 in 1997, the proportion of young people from Cumbria who entered higher education at age 18 or 19 was 27 per cent.
	For the cohort reaching 18 in 2000, the proportion of young people from Cumbria who entered higher education at age 18 or 19 was 28 per cent.
	For Copeland: for the cohort reaching 18 in 1997, the proportion of young people from Copeland who entered higher education at age 18 or 19 was 22 per cent. For the cohort reaching 18 in 2000, the proportion of young people from Copeland who entered higher education at age 18 or 19 was 23 per cent.
	 (ii) Further  e ducation
	The Department's estimates of the proportion of young people in education and training at a local level are only available for young people of academic age 16 and 17. Figures for 18-year-olds are not available.
	The proportion of 16 and 17-year-olds in Cumbria who were in education or work-based learning at the end of 2005 was 84 per cent. This compares to 76 per cent. in England overall. Figures are not available for Copeland.
	Further information can be found at the following link:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000734/index.shtml

Higher Education: Finance

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect on the lifelong learning of Peterborough residents of the reduction in funding for equivalent or lower qualifications.

Bill Rammell: No students currently studying equivalent or lower qualifications will be affected by these changes. In future, our policy of redistributing grant will widen participation and mean that, as elsewhere, more of the majority of Peterborough residents who do not have a first higher-level qualification, especially those from non-traditional backgrounds, will be able to benefit from participating in higher education.

Higher Education: Standards

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what his policy is on the decertification of university courses deemed not to be of adequate academic quality; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Higher education institutions, as autonomous bodies, are responsible for the quality of their provision and the academic standards of the qualifications which they award. Individual institutions are therefore responsible for the quality of their courses. HE institutions are supported by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) for higher education, which exists to safeguard the public interest and to help improve the academic standards and quality of higher education in the UK. QAA reviews since 1997 have consistently shown that high quality and standards are being maintained.

Minimum Wage

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many London-based staff are employed by his Department on the national minimum wage.

David Lammy: All London-based staff in the Department are employed above the national minimum wage level.

Student Loans Company: Complaints

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many complaints have been received by the Student Loans Company on loan repayments made via HM Revenue and Customs not being recorded by the Student Loans Company or appearing on Student Loans Company statements in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: The Student Loans Company's (SLC) data on complaints do not record this level of detail. The SLC received a total of 343 complaints about the Income Contingent Loan scheme in the year ending 30 November 2007, details of which are set out in the following table.
	Within the total number of complaints, the SLC have categorised 109 as being about deductions taken, although a number of complaints recorded under other categories may also relate to loan repayment deductions. In addition HMRC receives and responds to MP enquiries on behalf of individual borrowers where there is a mismatch between deductions taken and annual statements. The number made in 2006-07 was 41; for 2007-08 it stands at 21 to date.
	
		
			  Complaints received by SLC about ICL repayments 
			   Category of complaint 
			   Deductions taken  Incorrect advice via telephone or correspondence  Misunderstood scheme  System/clerical error  Total 
			  2006  
			 December 10 0 5 7 22 
			   
			  2007  
			 January 10 1 13 8 32 
			 February 10 3 20 8 41 
			 March 9 2 19 3 33 
			 April 7 1 11 5 24 
			 May 15 1 18 8 42 
			 June 8 0 12 9 29 
			 July 9 1 20 7 37 
			 August 11 1 17 4 33 
			 September 1 1 2 0 4 
			 October 2 0 4 3 9 
			 November 17 0 7 13 37 
			 Total 109 11 148 75 343

JUSTICE

Chorley Magistrates Court

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many courts operate on a regular basis at Chorley magistrates court.

Maria Eagle: Chorley magistrates court is part of the South West Lancashire magistrates courts. South West Lancashire magistrates courts are administered from the courthouse at Chorley, and courts sit at courthouses in Chorley, Leyland and Ormskirk.
	Chorley magistrates court has three actual courtrooms, which are in regular use. Currently three courts sit three days a week, with two courts sitting two days a week. One court sits on each Saturday and bank holiday.
	One of the courtrooms at Chorley will be temporarily out of commission between 28 March and 16 May 2008. This is to enable staff to be trained on site, for the new IT system, Libra, which goes live at the court on 9 May 2008. The Libra IT system is being rolled out to all magistrates courts nationally.
	Work that would ordinarily be accommodated in this courtroom will be allocated to the neighbouring courthouses, namely at South Ribble and Ormskirk (primarily to South Ribble). This arrangement will be monitored to ensure it is operating effectively, and any disruption to court users is kept to a minimum.

Clearsprings Management: Approved Premises

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many defendants on  (a) bail and  (b) home detention curfew have been released into accommodation provided by Clearsprings HDC under the bail and accommodation support services in each month since August 2007, indicating the numbers that relate to (i) pre- and (ii) post- conviction remand.

David Hanson: From 18 June 2007 to 14 January 2008 a total of 467 people have been released into the Clearsprings service; 298 on bail and 169 on home detention curfew. I will provide the monthly data requested as soon as possible. Information on the breakdown of bail cases between those untried and those convicted but unsentenced cannot be obtained except at disproportionate cost.

Coroners Act 1988

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were  (a) charged and  (b) convicted in each of the last 10 years under the Coroners Act 1988.

Bridget Prentice: Coroners, jurors and medical practitioners may be charged and convicted under sections 3, 9, 10 and 21 of the Coroners Act. Records are not held centrally of any offences under the Act and as a result we are unable to provide details of the numbers of jurors and medical practitioners who have been charged or convicted. We do know, however, that during the past 10 years no coroner has been charged or convicted under section 3(5) of the Coroners Act which provides that a coroner found guilty of corruption, wilful neglect of duty or misbehaviour in the discharge of his duty shall be liable to conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine or to both.

Coroners Act 1988

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what meetings he had with his officials on the subject of the Coroners Act 1988 in each of the last three months; and what was discussed at these meetings.

Bridget Prentice: Ministers regularly have meetings with and receive advice from officials on the whole range of the Department's portfolio.

Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 7 January 2008,  Official Report, column 138W, on the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, what the 18 broad categories are; and what proportion of successful claims were awarded under each category.

Jack Straw: The following table gives the 18 broad categories of occupational type, and shows the number of successful claims awarded under each category in the last 10 years.
	
		
			  Criminal injuries compensation schemeawards made by occupational type 
			  Occupations recorded  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Armed forces 153 206 196 194 197 205 211 187 207 159 
			 Clerical 559 651 751 724 753 753 689 586 667 724 
			 Educational worker (teacher etc.) 138 167 212 175 231 232 275 240 246 254 
			 Fire Fighter 54 61 69 54 53 63 64 57 56 50 
			 Housewife/Husband 780 1,195 1,115 944 986 976 959 789 684 597 
			 Medical worker (Doctor/Nurse etc.) 451 624 693 711 744 745 725 640 574 580 
			 Miscellaneous 9,588 13,007 13,341 11,673 12,194 13,315 12,846 10,994 9,653 8,495 
			 Police officer 1,405 1,848 1,705 1,651 1,669 1,741 1,664 1,411 1,286 1,176 
			 Prison officer 133 216 239 244 274 298 392 275 302 262 
			 Professional/Managerial 5,611 995 1,017 945 1,091 1,142 1,067 1,133 1,299 1,224 
			 Retired 1,223 1,302 1,524 1,485 1,491 1,608 1,441 1,145 1,002 858 
			 Security officer 239 342 301 295 332 323 376 288 270 256 
			 Self Employed 351 440 421 387 408 423 378 346 404 418 
			 Skilled Worker 563 813 905 1,251 1,366 971 907 883 1,023 1,247 
			 Student 2,440 3,238 3,347 3,013 3,325 3,473 3,577 3,593 3,644 3,514 
			 Taxi Driver 224 296 335 302 318 310 324 279 283 276 
			 Unemployed 3,878 5,204 5,164 4,418 4,492 4,594 4,177 3,615 3,533 3,240 
			 Unskilled/Manual worker 281 472 382 567 629 509 470 534 814 777 
			 Total successful cases resolved with an occupation type recorded 23,021 31,077 31,717 29,033 30,553 31,681 30,542 26,995 25,947 24,107 
			 Total successful resolved cases 31,365 39,994 39,529 36,760 30,652 42,159 41,235 35,371 33,724 31,455 
			 Percentage resolved cases with occupational type recorded 73 78 80 79 77 75 74 76 77 77

Departmental ICT

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on what date each IT system or systems replacing those that are redundant or not fit for purpose within the GNOMIS system will be operational; and how much each replacement or adapted system is expected to cost.

David Hanson: There are no redundant or not fit for purpose IT systems or systems within the NOMIS programme. GNOMIS is not a name recognised within the programme. C-NOMIS is now going to be limited to use within HMPS, rather than also including use within NPS. This has had minimal impact on the C-NOMIS software requirements. Commercial negotiations for this programme are on-going; therefore we are currently unable to reveal detailed costings of the individual elements of the overall programme.
	Following on from commercial negotiations, detailed and assured delivery plans that reflect the new approach and ensure constituent projects are delivered effectively to prisons and probation areas will be available from the spring.

Driving Offences: Surrey

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many persons in Surrey were  (a) convicted for speeding and  (b) received a fixed penalty for speeding in each of the last five years for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many persons in Surrey were convicted of drink driving in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: Available information from 2001 to 2005 (latest available) is provided in the following table.
	2006 data will be available later this year.
	
		
			  Fixed penalty notices issued( 1) , findings of guilt at all courts for speeding( 2)  and driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs( 3)  within Surrey police force area, 2001 to 2005 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Total found guilty at all courts for speed limit offences 3,478 2,021 1,508 (4)287 2,886 
			 Total fixed penalty notices issued for speed limit offences 10,424 6,052 7,057 8,200 (5)17,509 
			 Total found guilty at all courts for drink-driving offences 1,592 1,614 1,464 1,425 1,503 
			 (1) Only covers notices paid where there is no further action. (2) Offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and the Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regs 1973. (3) Data cover summary offences of driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs (which cannot reliably be distinguished separately). (4) The Court Proceedings database from which this figure is derived only hold 344 prosecutions in 2004 for this offence. (5) Safety Camera Partnership went live in the force area on 1 April 2005.  Notes: 1. It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular summary motoring offences, is less than complete. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Drugs: Re-offenders

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the re-offending rate was for offenders given a drug rehabilitation requirement by the courts in the most recent period for which figures are available.

David Hanson: Community orders were introduced for adult offenders in April 2005. The currently published statistics on re-offending do not include data on community orders (of which one possible requirement is the drug rehabilitation requirement). Re-offending data on community orders will be published for the first time in summer 2008. This publication will be based on offenders discharged from prison or commencing community orders in the first quarter of 2006.

Electoral Register

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he intends to pilot the use of individual electoral registration in  (a) Peterborough city council and  (b) any other English local authority in May 2008 or thereafter; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: The Representation of the People Act 2000 does not allow local authorities to pilot changes to registration. The legislation provides for three different types of pilot scheme:  (a) when, where and how voting at the elections is to take place;  (b) how the votes cast at the elections are to be counted; and  (c) the sending by candidates of election communications free of charge for postage.
	On 7 January, I confirmed in a response to a parliamentary question from the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) that there is no intention to undertake further electoral innovation pilot schemes in 2008.
	The Government are committed to increasing registration rates. The Electoral Administration Act 2006 contained a number of measures to increase levels of electoral registration. These include:
	Imposing a new duty on Electoral Registration Officers to take all necessary steps to ensure a comprehensive register;
	Increasing the time available for registration by enabling people to register up to 11 days before the election; and
	Introducing performance standards for Electoral Registration Officers. Electoral registration indicators were launched by the Electoral Commission during December 2007.
	The Government are currently evaluating the effectiveness of these new measures.

Electronic Tagging

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many defendants have been remanded on bail while subject to electronically-monitored curfew  (a) before and  (b) after conviction in each of the last seven years for which figures are available.

David Hanson: The following table sets out the number of separate occasions on which courts imposed an electronically monitored curfew requirement as a condition of bail in each of the last seven financial years in England and Wales. The figures have been provided by the two electronic monitoring suppliers, G4S and SERCO.
	
		
			  Financial year  Total number of times courts imposed a curfew with electronic monitoring as a bail condition 
			 2001-02(1) 42 
			 2002-03 2,444 
			 2003-04 4,427 
			 2004-05 5,844 
			 2005-06 8,548 
			 2006-07 18,321 
			 2007-08(2) 18,338 
			 (1) Year of introduction.  (2 )April to December 2007. 
		
	
	The caseload for tagging on bail has increased significantly after September 2005, when the Home Office advised the courts of the availability of curfew monitoring for adult defendants under the Bail Act 1976.
	Information on the breakdown of the above cases between those untried and those convicted but unsentenced cannot be obtained except at disproportionate cost.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he will reply to the hon. Member for Walsall North's letter of 27 November 2007 on a constituent, reference 182213/33215.

David Hanson: I wrote to the hon. Member on 7 January.

Ministry of Justice

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to publish the Brennan Review of the Ministry of Justice.

Jack Straw: The review of the organisation to my Department, following the creation of the Ministry of Justice and then the Carter Report, is continuing. I will inform Parliament of the findings when the work of the review is complete.

Offenders: Deportation

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many non-UK prisoners were returned to serve their sentence in  (a) EU and  (b) non-EU home countries in each year since 1997; which 10 non-EU countries received the most prisoners in that period; and how many of those returned to non-EU countries did not have leave to remain in the UK.

David Hanson: The number of prisoners returned to EU and non-EU home countries in each year since 2003 is given in the following tables. Figures for years prior to 2003 are not available. Nine non-EU countries have had prisoners repatriated to them since 2003. The figures are given in table 2.
	Information relating to immigration status is not centrally available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Number of prisoners repatriated from England and Wales in each year since 2003 
			  Table 1: From England and Wales to other EU member states 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Austria  
			 Belgium 13 1 16 12 10 
			 Bulgaria(1)  
			 Cyprus(2) 1 1 1  2 
			 Czech Republic(2) 1 
			 Denmark   2   
			 Estonia  
			 Finland   1 1  
			 France 3 1 1 4 3 
			 Germany 3 1 1  2 
			 Greece 1  1   
			 Hungary 1 
			 Ireland 8 5 5 13 5 
			 Italy 1 1   1 
			 Latvia(2)  
			 Lithuania(2) 1 
			 Luxembourg  
			 Malta(2)  
			 The Netherlands 8 83 92 70 75 
			 Poland(2) 1  1  1 
			 Portugal   1 1  
			 Romania(1)  
			 Slovakia(2)  
			 Slovenia(2)  
			 Spain 5 7 5 6 2 
			 Sweden   1   
			 Total 46 100 128 107 102 
			 (1) Member state of the EU since 1 January 2007 (2) Member state of the EU since 1 May 2004 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: To non-EU states 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Australia1  
			 Brazil1  
			 Canada   3   
			 Dutch Antilles   2 1 5 
			 Norway 2 
			 Serbia1  
			 Switzerland 11 
			 Turkey 2  3  1 
			 United States of America 1 
			 Total 4  8 4 9

Offensive Weapons: Sentencing

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many people were given a  (a) custodial sentence and  (b) fine or conviction for the offence of carrying and using a knife in a violent attack in 2007;
	(2)  how many people were given a  (a) custodial sentence and  (b) fine or conviction for the offence of carrying a knife in 2007.

David Hanson: There are no specific offences for:
	carrying and using a knife in a violent attack
	carrying a knife in a violent attack.
	For offences of wounding it is not possible to tell if a knife was used without going through court records. This would incur disproportionate costs to answering this question.

Political Levy

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the performance of trade unions on payment of individual affiliation fees for those members of the union that are also members of the Labour Party.

Jack Straw: I have made no such assessment. The responsibility for determining complaints from union members about trade unions in their application of funds for political objects is principally a matter for the Certification Officer, (for which the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform is responsible) and the Electoral Commission. I am aware that in the period over the last 10 years, the Certification Officer had received just 10 complaints in respect of trade union political funds, of which two have been upheld, and that the Electoral Commission have reported having received no complaints in this regard since their establishment.

Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Southend, West of 12 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 594-96W, on the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, what sentencing guidelines have been produced in relation to offences under the Act.

Jack Straw: Sentencing guidelines are issued by the Sentencing Guidelines Council, a non-departmental public body.
	The council has informed us that no sentencing guidelines have been issued in relation to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA).

Prison Accommodation

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the net impact on demand for prison places of remitting prison sentences in respect of time spent on remand on electronically monitored curfew  (a) before and  (b) after conviction in respect of offences committed on or after 4 April 2005.

David Hanson: Remitting prison sentences in respect of time spent on remand on electronically monitored curfew as proposed in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill will result in an estimated saving of 200 prison places. The impact will be after conviction as remand time will be deducted from any prison sentence imposed.

Prisoners

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) non-UK citizens and  (b) non-UK citizens without leave to remain in the UK were sentenced to custodial sentences in each year since 1997; what proportion of the prison population serving sentences fell into each of those categories in the same period; and what estimate he has made of the cost of detaining prisoners in each category in each of those years.

David Hanson: The following table gives the numbers of foreign national prisoners received into all prison establishments in England and Wales under immediate custodial sentence between 1997 and 2006 showing their proportion against all receptions:
	
		
			  Immediate custodial sentenced receptions into prison establishments in England and Wales by nationality 1997-2006 
			   All nationalities  British nationals  Foreign nationals  Unrecorded nationality  Foreign national  receptions  (percentage) 
			 1997 80,832 76,321 4,167 344 5.2 
			 1998 85,908 80,772 4,895 241 5.7 
			 1999 90,238 85,126 4,927 185 5.5 
			 2000 91,195 85,712 5,237 246 5.7 
			 2001 90,523 84,217 6,026 280 6.7 
			 2002 93,615 86,114 7,018 483 7.5 
			 2003 92,245 84,251 7,482 512 8.1 
			 2004 93,326 84,579 8,355 392 9.0 
			 2005 90,414 80,418 9,612 384 10.6 
			 2006 88,134 77,975 9,832 327 11.2 
		
	
	This information is derived from table 7.5 of the supplementary tables of the recently published Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2006, a copy of which will be placed in the House of Commons Library and which is available at the following website:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/prisonaandpobation.htm
	The following table gives the numbers of sentenced foreign national prisoners held in all prisons in England and Wales over the same period, ie the population by category at each year specified:
	
		
			  Sentenced population in prison establishments in England and Wales by whether foreign national 1997-2006 (as at June each year) 
			   All  British  Foreign nationals  Foreign national sentenced population (percentage) 
			 1997 48,674 45,311 3,250 6.7 
			 1998 52,159 48,442 3,546 6.8 
			 1999 51,293 47,377 3,862 7.5 
			 2000 53,093 49,059 3,918 7.4 
			 2001 54,169 49,471 4,576 8.4 
			 2002 57,272 51,471 5,607 9.8 
			 2003 58,190 51,791 6,168 10.6 
			 2004 60,924 54,453 6,256 10.3 
			 2005 62,179 55,497 6,509 10.5 
			 2006 63,404 55,956 7,283 11.5 
		
	
	Comparable information for Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Prison Service.
	This information is derived from tables 6.4 and 6.5 in Prison Statistics in England and Wales for years 1997-2002 and from table 8.29 in the Offender Management Caseload Statistics for the years 2003-06. Website versions of these tables can be found at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/omcs/html
	for years up to 2005 and at
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/prisonandprobation.htm
	for 2006. Paper copies of these publications can be found in the House of Commons Library.
	Information relating to immigration status is not centrally available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	There are no separate estimates of the cost of detaining prisoners according to whether UK or foreign national. The average cost per prisoner in 2006-07 was approximately 37,500, taking account of all establishment types.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the average cost of a new prisoner place in a new building; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The capital cost of building each new prisoner place is dependent on the type of accommodation constructed. The following table shows the current approximate capital cost per place for different construction types.
	
		
			  Construction type  Capital cost per place( 1)  () 
			 Houseblock 219,000 
			 Ready built residential unit 178,000 
			 Temporary custodial module 108,000 
			 Temporary custodial facility 122,000 
			 New prison 152,000 
			 (1) Public sector prisons.

Prisoners

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what projection has been made of the prison population in 2020; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: No prison population projections have been made for 2020. The latest published prison population projections, which cover the period 2007-14, were published in August 2007 (Prison population projections 2007-2014 England and Wales, N. de Silva, et al, Ministry of Justice, 2007). A copy is available in the Library of the House. When the methodology for projecting the prison population was developed (Forecasting the prison population, P. Grove, J. Macleod and D. Godfrey, OR Insight, 11(1), 1998, pp. 3-9) seven years was the period chosen as a reasonable period for the projections. The further into the future a projection is made, the less accurate it becomes.

Prisoners Transfers

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many managed moves were authorised by Michael Spurr, Deputy Director General of HM Prison Service, in  (a) 2004,  (b) 2005 and  (c) 2006; what proportion of these involved (i) male, (ii) female, (iii) white and (iv) ethnic minority personnel; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: All managed appointments of operational senior managers in the Prison Service are authorised by the Succession Planning Committee chaired by the deputy director general. Michael Spurr was appointed deputy director general in December 2006, therefore the figures for managed moves in the years in question include those overseen by the previous DDG. The number of managed appointments authorised in the years in question are as follows:
	
		
			   Male  Female  White  Ethnic minority  Total 
			 2004 12 4 16 0 16 
			 2005 35 19 52 2 54 
			 2006 34 14 46 2 48 
			 Total 81 37 114 4 118 
		
	
	These figures do not cover all managed appointments within the service as the SPC oversees only operational senior managers.
	To place this in context, the composition of operational senior managers as of 31 December 2007 broken down by gender and ethnicity, is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Male 231 
			 Female 35 
			 White 300 
			 Ethnic minority 12 
			 No data 4

Prisoners: Foreigners

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many foreign national prisoners serving sentences of less than 12 months have a court recommendation for deportation.

Maria Eagle: The following table shows the number of defendants for whom a judicial recommendation for deportation was issued at their trial or sentence hearing in the Crown court in England and Wales. This covers the last five calendar years for which data are available.
	
		
			  Defendants with judicial recommendations for deportation in the Crown court 2002-06 
			   Number 
			 2002 1,073 
			 2003 889 
			 2004 935 
			 2005 1,439 
			 2006 1,882 
		
	
	Of the 1,882 defendants issued with a judicial recommendation for deportation in the Crown court in 2006, 1,422 were sentenced to at least 12 months imprisonment. Therefore 24 per cent. (460) of those recommended for deportation in the Crown court in 2006 were sentenced to less than 12 months or given a non-custodial sentence.
	The above figures include defendants who were tried in the Crown court, as well as those who were committed for sentencing by the Crown court following summary trial in a magistrates court. Separately, there were a further 18 recommendations for deportation made in cases disposed of in the magistrates courts in 2006. However, the maximum possible custodial sentence that can be handed down in the magistrates courts is six months.

Prisoners: Muslims

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether any faith-based organisations make weekly visits to Muslim inmates in HMP Highpoint.

Maria Eagle: There is one faith-based organisation which makes weekly visits to Highpoint. Muslim mentors from a scheme based at a London mosque visit two or three prisoners on a weekly basis. The aim of this scheme is to help resettle Muslim offenders into their community and is available to prisoners who are due to resettle in the London area.

Prisoners: Muslims

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what schemes are in place in prisons in England and Wales aimed at preventing Muslim inmates being exposed to extremist  (a) views and  (b) indoctrination.

Maria Eagle: The Prison Service is delivering a programme of work to address the risks associated with violent extremism and radicalisation in prisons including: training and awareness raising for staff; intelligence gathering; and enhancing faith provision through Muslim chaplains. Decisions on the management of individual prisoners are taken on a case-by-case basis.

Prisoners: Self-Mutilation

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners in open prisons have been judged as posing a  (a) high and  (b) very high risk of causing serious harm.

Jack Straw: Only prisoners classified as category D, the lowest security category, and thus assessed as presenting a low risk, are eligible for open conditions.
	In the case of offenders sentenced to indeterminate sentences, they may be placed in open conditions only on a recommendation of the Parole Board, which has been accepted by the Secretary of State.
	In either case, offenders will only be placed in an open prison following an individual and rigorous risk assessment. In all cases, the protection of the public is paramount.
	The National Offender Management Service now also uses the Offender Assessment System (OASys) to assess the risk of serious harm presented by offenders. Probation officers have been undertaking OASys assessments for relevant offenders already placed in open prisons, following the risk assessment processes that were in place at the time.
	As at 9 January, there were no offenders in open prisons who were assessed on the OASys system as very high risk of serious harm and 280 who had been assessed as high risk of harm.
	Prisoners such as those who are now being assessed as high or very high risk on OASys have been successfully managed in open conditions for many years and open prisons provide an ideal environment to prepare prisoners for the transition from custody to management in the community.
	It should also be noted that, for those prisoners who are subject to Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements, release plans are in place to address risk to the public when the prisoner reaches their release date, and open prisons provide an ideal bridge between custody and management in the community.

Prisons

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the cost of  (a) the land and sites for and  (b) the building of the three titan prisons announced on 5 December 2007; and whether funding to cover these costs has been allocated to his Department.

David Hanson: The cost of the land and sites for the Titan prisons has been estimated at 122 million, and funding for this has been provisionally earmarked.
	The cost of construction of the Titan prisons has been estimated to be around 350 million each at 2007-08 prices.
	As I informed the Joint Select Committee on 17 December 2007 the cost of building and operating the Titan prisons, which will be post 2011 spending review period, will be subject to the usual Comprehensive Spending Review processes.

Rehabilitation: Young People

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Defence the provision of training programmes by the armed services for young people as an alternative to court  (a) proceedings and  (b) sentences under (i) voluntary and (ii) court-ordered arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: We will be consulting with a range of organisations which have an interest in youth justice and the provision of youth justice services as part of the Youth Crime Action Plan which will be published in the summer.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

British Franchise Association

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the British Franchise Association's compliance with the European code of ethics for franchising.

Stephen Timms: The Department has made no assessment of the British Franchise Association's (BFA) compliance with the European code of ethics for franchising. The BFA is a voluntary body, and its compliance with the code is a matter for the association.

British Franchise Association

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent representations he has received on the British Franchise Association's mediation in disputes with its members.

Stephen Timms: The Department has received no such representations.

Business: Inspections

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when inspectors' reports into  (a) Graylaw Holdings Ltd,  (b) Link Service Stations Ltd,  (c) British Anzani plc,  (d) Bank Street Securities Ltd,  (e) Medway Secondary Metals Ltd and  (f) Pennine Commercial Holdings plc were completed; and what plans he has to publish the report in each case.

Patrick McFadden: The inspectors' reports into Graylaw Holdings Limited, Link Service Stations Limited and Bank Street Securities Limited were all completed on 26 July 1996; the report into British Anzani plc was completed on 28 November 1986, the report into Medway Secondary Metals Limited was completed on 21 October 1987 and the report into Pennine Commercial Holdings plc was completed on 26 July 1996. There are no plans to publish the reports; in 1996 the Secretary of State concluded that publication was not justified.

Carbon Sequestration

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how carbon capture and storage technology will be considered in Government negotiations on the clean development mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government believe that carbon capture and storage forms an important part of the portfolio of mitigation options needed to tackle climate change. Carbon finance, channelled through instruments such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), offer a useful incentive to this technology, notably in key developing countries. In international negotiations, the UK has consistently argued, through the EU, that such projects should be considered under the CDM.
	Governments agreed at the Second Meeting of Kyoto Parties (COP/MOP2) that after the opportunity to consider outstanding issues at the recent meeting in Bali, we should seek agreement this year in Poznan to a decision providing guidance to the CDM Executive Board. We will continue to press at the Fourth Meeting of Parties (COP/MOP4) for a decision clarifying how the board should consider such projects.

Certification Officer: Expenditure

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the Certification Officer's expenditure was on  (a) hospitality and  (b) travel in the latest year for which figures are available.

Patrick McFadden: In 2006-07, the Certification Officer spent  (a) 65 on hospitality and  (b) 3,183 on travel and subsistence for himself and his staff.

Certification Officer: Finance

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the Certification Officer's budget is for  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 14 January 2008
	The Certification Officer's budget is for 2007-08 is 697,883. The budget for 2008-09 has not yet been agreed.

Certification Officer: Manpower

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many full-time equivalent staff work in the Certification Office.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 14 January 2008
	In addition to the Certification Officer, who works three days a week, the Certification Officer has nine full-time equivalent staff.

Regional Development Agencies: Planning

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what plans there are to designate regional development agencies (RDAs) as regional planning bodies; how conflicts of interest between RDAs' planning and economic roles will be prevented; and what estimate he has made of the likely costs to RDAs of making such changes.

Stephen Timms: The Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration, which was published in July 2007, indicated that the RDAs outside London would in future be responsible for producing a single integrated regional strategy for their regions, encompassing the existing economic and spatial strategies; and that they would be designated as the regional planning body. These integrated strategies will result in greater alignment of economic and spatial planning at the regional level and will need legislation. A consultation document on how this will be implemented will be issued shortly. The Government will consider the likely costs to the RDAs in the light of the responses to consultation but intend that overall the process of producing the single strategy will be streamlined, compared with the current process for producing two separate strategies.

Regional European Offices: Expenditure

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what the expenditure was of the East Midlands European Office in the last year for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the expenditure was of the South West UK Brussels Office in the last year for which figures are available;
	(3)  what the expenditure was of the North East of England Brussels Office in the last year for which figures are available;
	(4)  what the total expenditure was of the North West Brussels Office in the last year for which figures are available;
	(5)  what the expenditure was of the West Midlands in Europe office in the last year for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1164W, which provides the expenditure of UK Regional European Offices in the last year (2006-07).

Renewable Energy: Technology

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the effect on the volume of exports of the support given by UK Trade and Investment and the Renewables Trade Promotion Service to UK renewable technology manufacturers and developers.

Malcolm Wicks: Over the period 2005-07 the return on investment for the support given by UKTI and RETPS has been significant. For every 1 invested UK companies have won 18 of business.

Rover Group

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what fees have been paid to inspectors investigating MG Rover; and when he expects to publish their report.

Stephen Timms: The costs as at 31 December 2007 are 9,068,693 plus VAT of 1,661,501 and disbursements of 425,596. The inspection is continuing and I am unable to say when the report will be submitted. The Secretary of State will then consider publication.

South East England House

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the expenditure of South East England House was in the last year for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: South East England House received a contribution of 65,000 from the South East England Development Agency in 2006-07. Office costs are shared with the South East England regional assembly, all principal local authorities in the south-east, and with a range of other partners including several of the region's universities.

Trade Unions: Audit

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform by what means the Certification Officer scrutinises annual returns from trade unions.

Patrick McFadden: The Certification Officer's staff examine all annual returns received from trade unions to ensure that they meet the statutory requirements.

Trade Unions: Audit

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how the Certification Officer audits trade unions.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 14 January 2008
	The Certification Officer does not audit trade unions. Trade unions are required to submit to the Certification Officer annual returns relating to their affairs which must contain certain accounts. The accounts in the annual return must be audited. There are specific statutory provisions as to who can carry out this audit.

Trade Unions: Complaints

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many complaints about trades unions the Certification Officer received in each year since 2002; what the substance was of each complaint; and how many the Certification Officer responded to.

Patrick McFadden: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) on 19 November 2007,  Official Report, column 487. That answer gave details on the numbers of complaints accepted by the Certification Officer and determined in each year since 2002. The Certification Officer responds to all complaints he receives about trades unions. All decisions made by the Certification Officer after 2001 and a selection of key decisions made before are available on the Certification Officer's website www.certoffice.org. Those decisions provide detail on the substance of complaints.

TREASURY

Banks: Switzerland

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to bring subsidiaries of Swiss banks operating in the UK under equivalent banking regulatory arrangements as apply to those of EU member states.

Angela Eagle: UK registered subsidiaries of Swiss banks are subject to the EU regulatory arrangements and requirements relevant to the business they carry out. Any UK subsidiary carrying out banking business will be subject to regulatory oversight by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The FSA will apply the relevant directives, including supervision of capital adequacy in accordance with the EU capital requirements directive, at the level of that subsidiary.

Buildings: Cabinet Office

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 12 December 2007,  Official Report, column 613W, on buildings: Cabinet Office, what vacant space in the Prime Minister's Offices there was in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 12 December 2007,  Official Report, column 613W, on buildings: Cabinet Office, what the total area of the Prime Minister's offices was in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Eagle: The total area and vacant space in the Prime Minister's Offices recorded on e-PIMS since 2005-06, the earliest date from which data are available, is as follows:
	
		
			  (m( 2) ) 
			   Total area  Area of vacant space 
			 2005-06 4,066.2 0 
			 2006-07 4,066.2 0 
			 2007-08 (current) 4,066.2 0

Buildings: Cabinet Office

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 12 December 2007,  Official Report, column 613W, on buildings: Cabinet Office, 
	(1)  what vacant space in the Cabinet Office's estate there was in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  on buildings: Cabinet Office, what the total area of the Cabinet Office's estate was in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Eagle: The total area and vacant space in the Cabinet Office's estate recorded on e-PIMS since 2005-06, the earliest date from which data is available, is as follows:
	
		
			   Total area (m( 2) )  Area of vacant space (m( 2) )  Percentage of vacant space against total area 
			 2005-06 161,673 676 0.4 
			 2006-07 143,339 4782 3.3 
			 2007-08 (current) 146,886 4635 3.2 
		
	
	The reduction in area between 2005-06 and 2006-07 is because The National School of Government, previously part of Cabinet Office, became an independent department on 1 January 2007.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost has been to date of the Poynter Review into the loss of child benefit records by HM Revenue and Customs; and what the total cost of the review is expected to be.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond) on 10 January 2008,  Official Report, column 695W.

Death: Weather

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people died from cold weather related illnesses in the last 10 years; how many of them were from each  (a) age cohort and  (b) primary care trust area in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 15 January 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people died from cold-related illnesses in the last 10 years; how many of them were from each (a) age cohort and (b) primary care trust area in each year. (178415)
	There is no official definition of cold-related illnesses or causes of death, and 'cold' in itself is never recorded as the underlying cause of death according to the rules of the International Classification of Diseases. However, hypothermia or subnormal body temperature may be mentioned on the death certificate.
	The tables attached provide the number of deaths where hypothermia was mentioned on the death certificate, in (a) England by five-year age group, and (b) each primary care organisation in England, from 1997 to 2006 (the latest year available).
	
		
			  Table 1. Number of deaths with any mention of hypothermia on the death certificate( 1) ,( ) England, by age group, 1997-2006( 2) 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			  Age group  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 0-4 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 5-9 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 10-14 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 
			 15-19 3 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 2 0 
			 20-24 5 1 1 2 2 5 0 0 3 0 
			 25-29 4 4 1 4 2 2 3 1 1 1 
			 30-34 2 4 8 3 4 1 4 5 2 2 
			 35-39 8 6 3 4 4 6 5 2 5 4 
			 40-44 8 6 2 4 7 2 6 1 9 5 
			 45-49 9 7 9 7 3 8 11 1 6 7 
			 50-54 6 11 8 13 9 8 11 12 6 6 
			 55-59 11 11 14 16 12 10 13 4 10 9 
			 60-64 15 13 10 7 12 12 8 8 8 10 
			 65-69 22 21 15 16 13 6 4 10 10 7 
			 70-74 21 26 28 22 20 16 12 17 10 10 
			 75-79 63 39 41 44 37 18 16 17 7 19 
			 80-84 71 60 55 50 32 30 24 35 26 32 
			 85+ 122 100 107 104 91 68 62 50 47 60 
			 Total 370 310 306 300 250 195 180 167 152 172 
			 (1) Hypothermia was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 991.6 for the years 1996 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code T68, for the years 2001 to 2006. Deaths were included where hypothermia was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate. (2 )Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2. Number of deaths with any mention of hypothermia on the death certificate( 1) , primary care organisations( 2) , 1997-2006( 3) 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			  Area  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 England 370 310 306 300 250 195 180 167 152 172 
			
			  North East 13 18 16 10 10 13 7 7 11 15 
			 County Durham 4 2 6 2 1 2 1 1 3 4 
			 Darlington 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 1 
			 Gateshead 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Hartlepool 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Middlesbrough 3 2 4 2 2 2 2 0 2 2 
			 Newcastle 0 0 1 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 
			 North Tees 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 
			 North Tyneside 1 1 0 2 0 3 0 1 2 1 
			 Northumberland 1 4 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 2 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 
			 South Tyneside 1 1 0 0 2 1 2 2 0 0 
			 Sunderland Teaching 1 4 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 
			
			  North West 51 43 47 39 38 20 29 29 21 19 
			 Ashton, Leigh and Wigan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 1 1 0 1 4 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Blackpool 4 5 0 3 1 5 5 0 2 1 
			 Bolton 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 1 
			 Bury 0 2 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Central and Eastern Cheshire 4 0 1 3 4 1 1 0 1 0 
			 Central Lancashire 1 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 0 1 
			 Cumbria 10 3 7 3 5 2 1 2 4 1 
			 East Lancashire 2 2 1 0 1 0 3 2 0 2 
			 Halton and St. Helens 0 0 2 2 2 1 1 1 0 1 
			 Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 
			 Knowsley 2 3 0 2 3 1 3 3 1 0 
			 Liverpool 5 7 13 4 8 3 5 7 1 2 
			 Manchester 3 3 3 2 3 0 0 1 0 1 
			 North Lancashire 4 0 2 2 0 2 1 0 2 0 
			 Oldham 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Salford 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 
			 Sefton 1 0 2 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Stockport 2 0 1 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 
			 Tameside and Glossop 1 0 2 2 0 0 2 3 3 0 
			 Trafford 1 3 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Warrington 1 1 2 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 
			 Western Cheshire 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 
			 Wirral 6 4 4 2 1 0 0 2 0 3 
			
			  Yorkshire and the Humber 23 31 27 18 26 23 to 17 11 15 
			 Barnsley 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Bradford and Airedale 0 7 2 1 4 3 0 4 1 0 
			 Calderdale 3 2 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 
			 Doncaster 0 1 2 0 1 3 1 0 0 0 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 0 3 1 3 3 0 1 1 3 1 
			 Hull 4 2 1 1 1 0 1 3 0 0 
			 Leeds 0 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 
			 North East Lincolnshire Care Trust 0 1 5 2 3 1 0 1 2 3 
			 North Lincolnshire 2 2 0 4 2 4 2 2 2 3 
			 North Yorkshire and York 5 4 4 2 4 3 2 3 0 4 
			 Rotherham 0 0 1 0 3 1 1 0 1 0 
			 Sheffield 4 6 5 3 2 3 0 1 0 2 
			 Wakefield District 4 1 2 0 2 3 0 1 1 0 
			
			  East Midlands 24 21 33 31 16 13 14 7 13 8 
			 Bassetlaw 0 4 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 
			 Derby City 2 1 3 4 2 1 1 1 3 0 
			 Derbyshire County 5 4 9 6 2 2 2 0 0 4 
			 Leicester City 5 6 8 9 4 3 6 3 4 1 
			 Leicestershire County and Rutland 0 1 2 3 0 2 1 0 1 0 
			 Lincolnshire 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 
			 Northamptonshire 8 3 5 2 1 1 1 1 3 2 
			 Nottingham City 2 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Nottinghamshire County 2 2 2 4 5 2 3 0 1 0 
			
			  West Midlands 46 47 42 50 34 28 20 24 22 27 
			 Birmingham East and North 3 2 5 7 5 3 2 1 1 2 
			 Coventry Teaching 0 2 2 5 3 1 1 2 0 3 
			 Dudley 5 5 4 1 1 2 2 3 0 1 
			 Heart of Birmingham Teaching 4 4 5 4 5 3 1 1 2 3 
			 Herefordshire 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 
			 North Staffordshire 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 1 
			 Sandwell 5 4 5 1 4 2 0 0 2 1 
			 Shropshire County 2 0 1 1 0 2 1 1 1 1 
			 Solihull Care Trust 2 2 0 3 0 3 1 0 0 2 
			 South Birmingham 5 5 5 6 2 2 2 2 2 1 
			 South Staffordshire 3 7 1 2 3 1 0 4 2 3 
			 Stoke on Trent 4 2 3 1 5 5 1 0 1 1 
			 Telford and Wrekin 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Walsall Teaching 2 1 1 5 1 1 0 2 2 3 
			 Warwickshire 2 1 4 3 1 2 3 4 2 1 
			 Wolverhampton City 1 5 3 5 1 0 2 1 2 1 
			 Worcestershire 5 6 2 5 2 1 3 1 2 3 
			
			  East of England 56 35 41 43 40 22 24 19 22 19 
			 Bedfordshire 11 3 1 5 3 0 2 4 1 1 
			 Cambridgeshire 1 6 6 6 6 3 3 0 4 0 
			 East and North Hertfordshire 2 1 5 5 1 1 0 0 1 3 
			 Great Yarmouth and Waveney 3 1 1 3 4 2 1 1 2 1 
			 Luton 0 2 1 2 4 2 1 2 1 2 
			 Mid Essex 1 2 1 0 2 1 1 0 3 2 
			 Norfolk 0 2 2 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 
			 North East Essex 10 7 9 2 5 4 9 3 5 4 
			 Peterborough 2 1 1 3 1 0 1 1 1 2 
			 South East Essex 6 0 1 2 2 1 0 2 0 1 
			 South West Essex 3 1 1 5 3 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Suffolk 12 5 7 5 5 1 3 3 3 2 
			 West Essex 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 1 1 0 
			 West Hertfordshire 5 3 5 3 2 4 2 1 0 1 
			
			  London 42 31 27 35 18 19 26 22 21 23 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 
			 Barnet 2 0 0 1 0 1 4 0 2 1 
			 Bexley 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Brent Teaching 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 
			 Bromley 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 2 2 
			 Camden 1 0 2 2 1 0 1 2 1 0 
			 City and Hackney Teaching 2 0 2 0 1 2 0 0 1 1 
			 Croydon 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 
			 Ealing 2 0 2 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 
			 Enfield 5 1 1 5 3 0 1 0 0 1 
			 Greenwich Teaching 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 3 6 1 4 0 0 4 0 1 1 
			 Haringey Teaching 0 1 0 2 3 1 0 0 1 0 
			 Harrow 1 0 1 3 1 0 1 1 1 4 
			 Havering 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Hillingdon 1 3 2 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 
			 Hounslow 1 1 0 2 0 2 1 2 0 1 
			 Islington 3 0 3 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 
			 Kingston 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 
			 Lambeth 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 
			 Lewisham 2 1 1 2 3 1 3 2 2 3 
			 Newham 2 1 0 3 1 2 3 1 0 2 
			 Redbridge 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Richmond and Twickenham 4 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 
			 Southwark 1 2 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 
			 Sutton and Merton 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 2 1 
			 Tower Hamlets 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Waltham Forest 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 
			 Wandsworth 0 3 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 
			 Westminster 1 2 3 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 
			
			  South East Coast 40 29 34 26 23 19 19 16 12 17 
			 Brighton and Hove City 8 5 3 0 1 2 1 1 0 0 
			 East Sussex Downs and Weald 4 3 5 3 4 3 3 2 2 3 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent 4 3 4 5 4 1 2 2 0 2 
			 Hastings and Rother 4 2 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 
			 Medway 1 2 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 3 
			 Surrey 8 5 9 4 3 3 6 5 5 3 
			 West Kent 3 4 2 4 4 2 3 4 0 2 
			 West Sussex 8 5 6 9 5 7 4 1 4 4 
			
			  South Central 19 18 10 27 15 14 10 8 2 11 
			 Berkshire East 2 2 1 6 3 3 2 1 0 1 
			 Berkshire West 1 6 0 6 2 5 1 1 0 2 
			 Buckinghamshire 2 3 4 5 1 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Hampshire 10 5 2 2 1 4 3 1 1 5 
			 Isle of Wight NHS 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 
			 Milton Keynes 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Oxfordshire 2 2 2 2 4 0 1 2 0 1 
			 Portsmouth City Teaching 0 0 1 4 1 2 0 1 0 0 
			 Southampton City 1 0 0 1 2 0 1 1 1 1 
			
			  South West 56 37 29 21 30 24 21 18 17 18 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Bournemouth and Poole 2 1 6 0 2 4 1 1 4 4 
			 Bristol 2 3 1 1 0 0 4 2 1 1 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 8 6 2 3 2 5 0 3 1 1 
			 Devon 9 5 7 5 9 3 1 1 5 3 
			 Dorset 4 7 4 4 4 1 3 0 1 0 
			 Gloucestershire 10 3 1 1 4 2 2 2 2 1 
			 North Somerset 1 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 
			 North Staffordshire 0 1 3 0 2 0 2 2 0 1 
			 Plymouth Teaching 6 3 1 2 0 0 2 3 0 3 
			 Somerset 5 2 1 3 2 3 2 2 2 0 
			 South Gloucestershire 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 
			 Swindon 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Torbay 4 2 1 0 3 3 2 0 0 1 
			 Wiltshire 4 0 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 
			 (1) Hypothermia was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 991.6 for the years 1996 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code T68, for the years 2001 to 2006. Deaths were included where hypothermia was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate. (2) Based on boundaries as of 2008. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Debts: Counselling

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from  (a) the Church of England and  (b) other churches on debt counselling.

Angela Eagle: HM Treasury has not received any representations from  (a) the Church of England or  (b) other churches on debt counselling.

Departmental Administration

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress his Department has made towards its administrative burden reduction target.

Angela Eagle: Progress towards the administrative burden target was set out in the Treasury's simplification plan published in December 2007. The plan is available on the Treasury's website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/4/4/simplificationplan111207.pdf

Departmental Buildings

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) new build and  (b) refurbishment projects of a value of under 250,000 for which his Department was responsible took place in 2005-06; and how many of those projects were subject to the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method.

Angela Eagle: There were no new build or refurbishment projects under 250,000 in value undertaken by the Treasury in 2005-06.

Departmental Contracts

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the  (a) objective and  (b) value was of each contract placed with (i) Deloitte  Touche, (ii) Ernst  Young, (iii) KPMG, (iv) PricewaterhouseCoopers and (v) PA Consulting by his Department and its agencies in each year since 2004-05.

Angela Eagle: The nature and total value of all contracts, consultancies and other services placed by The Treasury and its agencies with Deloitte and Touche, Ernst and Young, KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers and PA Consulting are contained in the following tables:
	
		
			  HMT 
			   
			2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Deloitte and Touche  0 0 0 
			  
			 Ernst and Young Audit 44,118 197,084 213,232 
			  Policy Review 47,692 0 120,028 
			  Outsourced Payroll Review 0 20,228 0 
			  General Consultancy 289,244 70,410 112,337 
			  Total 381,053 287,721 445,597 
			 KPMG Executive Recruitment 0 0 107,352 
			  General Consultancy 44,118 264,512 29,921 
			  Total 44,118 264,512 137,273 
			  
			 PA Consulting Staff Development 61,466 170,421 1,111,345 
			  General Consultancy 35,518 21,188 0 
			  Total 96,985 191,609 1,111,345 
			  
			 PWC Liquidator Fees 0 85,143 11,409 
			  Financial Advisory Services 0 92,194 161,890 
			  Total 0 177,337 173,299 
		
	
	
		
			  OGC 
			   
			2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Deloitte and Touche General Consultancy 137,925 128,651 66,944 
			  Total 137,925 128,651 66,944 
			  
			 Ernst and Young  0 0 0 
			  
			 KPMG General Consultancy 123,867 860,420 17,273 
			  Total 123,867 860,420 17,273 
			  
			 PA Consulting Staff Development 260,318 80,811 852 
			  General Consultancy 0 0 72,713 
			  Total 260,318 80,811 73,565 
			  
			 PWC General Consultancy 31,461 868,437 59,191 
			  Total 31,461 868,437 59,191 
		
	
	
		
			  NSI 
			   
			2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Deloitte and Touche Internal Audit Service 522,319 1,000,281 1,356,255 
			  Project Management and Advice 19,021 96,861 12,925 
			  Total 541,340 1,097,142 1,369,180 
			  
			 Ernst and Young Post Office Compliance Audit 0 63,450 199,750 
			  Total 0 63,450 199,750 
			  
			 KPMG  0 0 0 
			  
			 PA Consulting Business Continuity Management 29,706 122,780 89,320 
			  Total 29,706 122,780 89,320 
			  
			 PWC  0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			  Royal Mint 
			   
			2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Deloitte and Touche  0 0 0 
			  
			 Ernst and Young  0 0 0 
			 KPMG General Consultancy 0 3,500 0 
			  Total 0 3,500 0 
			  
			 PA Consulting  0 0 0 
			  
			 PWC Vesting 0 351,052 0 
			  VAT 0 8,500 4,500 
			  PAYE Advice 0 0 3,245 
			  General Consultancy 2,250 64,956 26,688 
			  Total 2,250 424,508 34,433

Departmental Legal Opinion

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent by his Department on legal advice for police investigations in each of the last 12 months.

Angela Eagle: There has not been any spending on legal advice for police investigations within HM Treasury in any of the last 12 months.

Electorate: Greater London

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of people on the electoral register in each London borough are  (a) nationals of EU member states other than the UK and  (b) not nationals of (i) the UK and (ii) the Republic of Ireland.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 15 January 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning how many and what percentage of people on the electoral registers in each London borough are (a) nationals of EU member states other than the UK and (b) not nationals of (i) the UK and (ii) the Republic of Ireland. (179019)
	Data separately identifying British, Irish, or Commonwealth citizens are not collected centrally; these citizens are grouped together on local authority electoral returns. Therefore we are unable to produce data separately for British and Irish citizens.
	The attached table provides the nearest available data to those you requested. It provides figures for 1 December 2006 for each London Borough and the City of London, on the number and proportion of registered electors who qualify through EU citizenship, excluding British, Irish, Cypriot and Maltese citizens (Cypriot and Maltese citizens qualify as Commonwealth citizens). Also shown are equivalent data for those electors who qualify through British, Irish or Commonwealth citizenship.
	Electoral counts for 1 December 2007 will be published on 28 February 2008.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number and percentage of the electorate qualifying through European Union citizenship, and number and percentage of the electorate qualifying through British, Irish, or Commonwealth citizenship, London boroughs, 1 December 2006 
			   Electorate qualifying through European Union citizenship( 1, 2)  Percentage of electorate qualifying through European Union citizenship( 1, 2)  Electorate qualifying through British, Irish or Commonwealth citizenship( 1)  Percentage of electorate qualifying through British, Irish or Commonwealth citizenship( 1) 
			 City of London 404 7 5,684 93 
			 Barking and Dagenham 3,115 3 119,950 97 
			 Barnet 10,623 5 210,254 95 
			 Bexley 1,923 1 170,775 99 
			 Brent 15,275 8 177,801 92 
			 Bromley 4,720 2 229,228 98 
			 Camden 12,987 9 133,766 91 
			 Croydon 6,939 3 236,725 97 
			 Ealing 16,737 8 204,785 92 
			 Enfield 7,743 4 192,099 96 
			 Greenwich 7,031 4 157,276 96 
			 Hackney 9,201 7 128,149 93 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 12,510 10 107,283 90 
			 Haringey 12,985 8 144,712 92 
			 Harrow 5,721 3 159,580 97 
			 Havering 1,506 1 177,475 99 
			 Hillingdon 5,167 3 181,987 97 
			 Hounslow 8,926 5 154,262 95 
			 Islington 8,603 7 116,019 93 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 16,058 16 85,741 84 
			 Kingston upon Thames 4,806 4 103,231 96 
			 Lambeth 15,951 8 192,087 92 
			 Lewisham 7,487 4 170,635 96 
			 Merton 8,641 6 129,611 94 
			 Newham 12,840 7 172,927 93 
			 Redbridge 2,045 1 183,533 99 
			 Richmond upon Thames 5,983 5 119,803 95 
			 Southwark 11,807 6 182,150 94 
			 Sutton 3,042 2 131,359 98 
			 Tower Hamlets 9,156 6 141,120 94 
			 Waltham Forest 10,051 6 158,439 94 
			 Wandsworth 15,144 7 204,016 93 
			 Westminster 17,989 13 121,523 87 
			 (1) These data are as reported by each London borough to ONS. (2) Excludes British and Irish citizens, and also Maltese and Cypriot citizens who qualify as Commonwealth citizens.  Source: Office for National Statistics.

Employment

Stephen Byers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the working age population were in full-time employment in each local authority area in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 15 January 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked, to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what percentage of the working age population were in full-time employment in each local authority area in the most recent period for which figures are available. I am replying in her absence. (179143)
	The Office for National Statistics compiles employment statistics for local authorities from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	Table 1 attached, shows the number of people in full-time employment as a percentage of the working age population by local authority in Great Britain, for the period July 2006 to June 2007 (the latest period for which data are available) from the APS. A copy of this table has been placed in the House: of Commons Library.
	As these estimates are for a subset of the population in small geographical areas, they are based on small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty. Estimates for the City of London in. particular are based on very few observations.

English Language

Damian Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: A complete record of language training undertaken by Treasury staff is not held centrally and the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will estimate the revenue which would be raised per annum by increasing duty on spirits by  (a) one penny,  (b) five pence,  (c) 10 pence and  (d) 20 pence; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will estimate the revenue which would be raised per annum by increasing duty on wines by  (a) one penny,  (b) five pence,  (c) 10 pence and  (d) 20 pence; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The revenue effects of illustrative changes to alcohol duty are set out in table 6 on page 11 in the Tax Ready Reckoner, published alongside the pre Budget report and available at
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk./media/1/F/pbr_csr07_taxreadyreckoner.pdf.

Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what level of duty was charged on  (a) spirits,  (b) wines,  (c) beer and  (d) tobacco in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The information requested can be found in the Budget documents for each year.

Freedom of Information Act 2000

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Freedom of Information requests his Department has received since the Freedom of Information Act 2000 came into force; and in how many instances his Department took more than  (a) six,  (b) 12,  (c) 18 and  (d) 24 months to provide a substantive response;

Angela Eagle: Statistics on the Treasury's performance under the Freedom of Information Act are available in the Library of the House and published by the Ministry of Justice. The most recent publication is available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/quarterly-stats-jul-sep-07.pdf
	The data published comply with the agreed reporting requirements for central Government Departments and show that the Treasury responded to 94 per cent. of requests within the statutory deadline. The additional information sought could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Railways: Standards

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on the UK economy of cancelled train services in December 2007 and January 2008.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 15 January 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking what estimate has been made of damage to the UK economy caused by cancelled trains in December 2007 and January 2068. I am replying in her absence. (179357)
	Estimates of growth in the volume of economic activity of the rail sector are included as part of a wider estimate of the output of the Land Transport sector published in ONS's monthly Index of Services First Release (IoS FR). The growth in rail transport is measured by the change in the number of passenger-kilometres travelled each month, based on data collected by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR). While it is not possible to separately identify the impact of any cancellations to rail services during the period December 2007 and January 2008, this will be reflected in the published estimates. Estimates for December 2007 based on these data from the ORR will be published in the IoS FR for the first time on 25 April 2008, and estimates for January 2008 on 25 July 2008. If there is a wider impact of any cancellations to rail services on other sectors it would be reflected in the estimates of growth for these sectors published as part of GDP, which are typically based on estimates of turnover returned to ONS by businesses. However, again any such impact would not be separately identifiable.

Registration of Births Deaths Marriages and Civil Partnerships: Internet

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much compensation has been paid by the General Register Office to local authorities in consequence of difficulties arising in the introduction and operation of Registration On-line.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Registrar General, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 15 January 2008:
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how much compensation has been paid by the General Register Office to local authorities in consequence of difficulties arising in the introduction and operation of Registration On-line. (177094)
	Compensation claims could be lodged up to December 2007, and are still being assessed. These relate to the additional costs incurred by register offices where birth, death and stillbirth registrations which they had needed to take manually for a short period after the introduction of Registration On-line then had to be input retrospectively to the Registration On-line database. Payments totalling 43,000 have so far been agreed.

Taxation: Occupational Pensions

Tony Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the tax changes introduced in April 2006 in relation to occupational pension schemes, with particular reference to tax relief for employer contributions on the same basis as other business expenditure.

Jane Kennedy: The regulatory impact assessment (RIA) of April 2004 'Simplifying the Taxation of Pensions' at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/ria/simplifying-pensions.pdf
	and the annex to that RIA of March 2005 at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/ria/simplifying-pensions-appendix.pdf
	set out the Government's assessment of the impact of the new rules including the plans to evaluate their effects on changes on private pension saving.

VAT: Drinks

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  which drinks are exempt from value added tax; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what representations he has received calling on him to  (a) reduce and  (b) abolish value added tax on 100 per cent. fruit drinks; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Paymaster General gave to the hon. Member for Bristol, West (Stephen Williams) on 17 October 2006,  Official Report, column 1114-15W.
	Full details of the scope of the zero rate can be found in HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) Notice 701/14, 'Food', which is published on HMRC's website at
	www.hmrc.gov.uk.
	Representations are regularly made to Treasury Ministers and officials on a wide range of issues.

Welfare Tax Credits: EU Nationals

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims for  (a) working tax credits and  (b) child tax credits were made by citizens of other EU member states resident in Peterborough constituency in 2006-07; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available.